Hotpot is an illustrative recipe book that seeks to reflect the spicy and warm culture of Sichuan through one of their most famous foods.
Major project
Hotpot
Ingredients Spread I
This spread shows the ingredients (from left to right) of beef liver, herbs, mushrooms, a fish alongside a giant panda. For those unfamiliar with Sichuan, the inclusion of a giant panda might seem odd. But within China, it is common knowledge that giant pandas are native to Sichuan and are thus seen as a tender and comic symbol of the province. Throughout the book, giant panda guide the reader through process of making hotpots.
Ingredients Spread II
This ingredients page highlights the centricity of meats within typical Sichuan hotpots. As is the case of all of the illustrations within this book, images were drawn first, in pencil, before being painted using water colour and edited for arrangement digitally. The paper textures and subtle colour mottling and dappling bring a softness that engenders the warmth associated with eating hotpot.
A Contemporary Hunan Gathering
One of the aims of the book is to educate its readers of the value of hotpots consumption and preparation as a ritual that brings communities together. Mengyao reflects on her experiences of eating Hotpots in their childhood hometown, articulating the memories through illustration that show how the meal can interweave positivity and notions of belonging.
An Ancient Hunan Farm
The modern hotpot dates back to the Qing Dynasty of 17th and 20th century, enjoyed first by nobles and the affluent, in and with decorative utensils. As the cuisine trickled down the classes, attitudes toward the hotpot changed, incorporating industrial production methods to mass produce hotpot vessels, with agricultural approaches changing in tandem.
Step by Step Spread
This spread from the 3rd chapter of the book looks directly at the preparation of hotpots as opposed to its history, utensils, and cultural value. A four step process, the first two steps focus on cooking the spices necessary for a standard soup base.
Meat Preparation Spread
The importance of meat in hotpots cannot be overlooked, and whilst vegetarian hotpots are available, they most commonly feature a lot of meat. The highly adaptable nature of hotpots allows for a variety of meats to be added together using a mixture of cuts and seasonings.
Mengyao Wu
Major project
Hotpot