冒菜 -Mao Cai
So, last night I ate Maocai with a few friends and then drank far too much beer. If you asked me how to translate the word ‘Maocai’ into English, the truth is that I wouldn’t even have the slightest clue.
One could consider it to be similar to a typical hotpot, but the ingredients are already cooked when it arrives at your table. Some may feel that it removes the fun aspects of eating hotpot, but maybe some would argue that Maocai is far less troublesome?
Looks delicious but it looks like it has that spice that numbs your lips and tongue which I really don't like. It's like the folks down south brag about how spicy of food they can eat but the food they eat also has a numbing agent. lol
I can handle some spiciness but those southerners, damn they can really really a double burning.
are you enjoying for first few days down there so far? I've been tempted many times to fly south to live but I am literally terrified of cockroaches. Snakes, tigers, bears and lunatics I can handle but bugs have me running. haha
We actually only got it 微辣 because my friend is from Yangzhou and can’t handle the spicy stuff. As for me, I’m always up for spicy food whether it’s the mala stuff from Chongqing/Sichuan or the even spicier stuff from Hunan, which uses fresh rather than dried chillies.
ah so