My Singapore Steamboat Buffet Experience
Lately, I’ve been on a hunt for something soupy, not because of the weather, but I felt like I need something to warm my belly. It just amazes me how Steamboat, or what we usually call hotpot, can be customised to our preference. It’s like doing a magic potion to everybody’s liking.
Why Steamboat?
Originally Steamboat is known as hotpot, which is a Chinese cooking tradition. It just so happens that Malaysia and Singapore gave it a new name — Steamboat. The idea is to cook the food in a steamboat cooker that heats the broth, and then you add other ingredients such as protein, vegetable and other condiments that will go with your preferred taste. It’s a matter of mix and match as you enjoy your time catching up with your friends or family.
What’s in a Steamboat buffet?
As I tried to dine in a hotpot or steamboat buffet Singapore restaurant, I noticed each caters for its speciality. You are being provided with a wide variety of ingredients to include in your broth. Some restaurants will offer you their signature broth, and you can choose from their garden vegetables, premium meat selections, and seasonal kinds of seafood. I always prefer a seafood hotpot. The aroma is just so appealing, and if it is perfectly crafted, the mixture of taste of every kind of seafood makes its gastronomic delights.
There’s no harm in mixing all the ingredients; sometimes, that’s what makes it fun. Putting things you don’t know may somehow complement each other. Some may take a while to get the right taste but hey, what matters most is the fun you have with your special one, even if it fails. You can always order a second round or pick other options. Some hotpot buffets offer a complete course, from appetiser to their primary speciality and free flow desserts.