Richard Wright wrote:
> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 07:43:42 +0300, "Opinicus" >
> wrote:
>
>>"Richard Wright" > wrote
>>
>>>Does anybody know of the history of this sort of
>>>instrument?
>>
>>For starters:
>>
>>http://www.beijingservice.com/beijin...hts/hotbot.htm
>
> Thanks Bob. That's a nice insight into the history and the regional
> variety of ingredients. It is perhaps it is reasonable to assume they
> were using a steamboat - but not necessarily.
>
> I am still hoping for something on the history of the gadget.

Look around for "huo kuo" references. <http://tinyurl.com/demsl>

I've never heard it called a "steamboat." Firepot, Mongolian firepot,
huo kuo or, the Japanese variant, shabu shabu.

I hard a fanciful story about the origins of these pots with Mongols
using their armored breastplates to cook meat that they killed in their
travels. Only problem is that they didn't use metal armor. Oh, well.
Shame to let facts get in the way of a good story.

Pastorio