Stirring Up Flavor and Vibes: A Hotpot Lunch Celebration for APAHM

In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the AAPI squad at The Many decided to spice things up in the best way possible: with a hotpot lunch takeover. Everything was planned to perfection- groceries sourced, cooking utensils assembled, playlist fine-tuned.

What wasn’t planned, was the way almost everyone at the office that day came by the kitchen to help prep. Whether folks jumped in to chop veggies or rinse off the shrimp, the team participated in a big way and really put our kitchen to good use.

Now, if you're not familiar with hotpot, let us paint you a flavorful picture. It's like a DIY buffet meets a communal cooking experience. You've got a steaming pot of fragrant broth simmering at the center of the table, surrounded by an array of fresh ingredients just waiting to take a dip. From thinly sliced meats and seafood to vibrant veggies and noodles galore, the possibilities are as endless as your appetite. And our team didn’t skimp on providing options.

But the magic of hotpot isn't just in the broth—it's in the shared experience. As we gathered around the counter, cooking tongs in hand, we found ourselves focusing more on each other than the meal. We swapped stories of culinary adventures and learned just as much about each other as we did the food. Although, we should mention that there was almost every single kind of broth, from Tom Yum to Kimchi-jjigae - and none of it disappointed.