Food can bring people together, even during a pandemic. SKETCH BY ZHAO CHENHUI
The COVID-19 outbreak has confined many to their homes. Though some have taken this chance to hone their cooking skills, others have been missing delicious food that is often served in restaurants.
新冠肺炎疫情让许多人都只能宅在家中。尽管有些人利用这次机会精进了厨艺，但也有些人想念餐厅里常见的美味佳肴。
In order to ease people’s cravings, a new documentary, Pot of Fire, premiered on Tencent Video on Feb 14, allows internet users to “enjoy” hotpot together online. “No food other than hotpot can represent how much Chinese like to gather together to enjoy happiness,” documentary director Qu Nan told China Daily.
为了给大伙解解馋，一部全新的纪录片《沸腾吧火锅》2月14日在腾讯视频上线，让网友们能够在线“享用”火锅。“没有什么食物比火锅更能代表中国人喜欢欢聚一堂的幸福感，”该纪录片导演曲楠在接受《中国日报》采访时如此表示。
As one of the famous meals in China, hotpot has been popular for ages, for it’s “free-for-all and healthy approach,” according to National Public Radio. From vegetables to meat, from noodles to seafood, diners can add different ingredients to the broth to cook. Unlike frying or other cooking methods, boiling food only releases their nutrients into the broth. This way can maximize the flavors of all the ingredients.
美国国家公共电台称，作为一道著名的中国菜，火锅因其“随性又健康的吃法”火了很多年。从菜到肉，从面条到海鲜，食客们可以往汤底中加入不同食材煮熟。和煎炸等其他烹饪方法不同，沸煮只会让食材在汤底中释放自身的营养成分。这种方式能最大限度地呈现所有食材的风味。
Hotpot can bring warmth to our body and improve blood circulation in winter, and increase perspiration to help cool the body in summer, according to China Highlights.
“中华游”网站称，火锅在冬季能够暖身，促进血液循环，在夏季能够增加排汗，帮助身体降温。
But eating hotpot is much more than an enjoyment for our taste buds and health. It’s also a celebration of life and friendship.
但吃火锅不仅是味蕾与健康的享受，更是一种庆祝生活与情谊的方式。
For most Chinese people, eating hotpot is usually a social event. A survey by Chenzhi Catering Database showed that 40.2 percent of Chinese usually eat hotpot with friends, while 17.6 percent use the occasion for a family reunion.
对于大多数中国人而言，吃火锅通常是一项社交活动。辰智餐饮数据库发布的一项调查显示，40.2%的中国人会和朋友们吃火锅，17.6%的人在家庭聚餐时会选择吃火锅。
When a group of people sit around a table to eat, chat and drink, it’s a good time. “As the food continues to boil in the broth, we keep drinking and chatting with each other. The atmosphere makes the time warm,” said Yu Jiaqing, a 28-year-old luxury brand marketing staffer from Beijing.
一群人围着桌子吃饭、畅饮、聊天，便是一段美好时光。“食物一边在锅中不断翻滚沸腾，我们一边和朋友畅饮聊天。这种气氛温暖了时光，”来自北京的28岁奢侈品牌营销工作者于佳庆（音译）如此说道。
As a popular saying goes, “There’s nothing to worry about after having a hotpot. If you are still worried, then go for it twice.”
正如一句流行语所言，“没有什么是一顿火锅解决不了的，如果有，那就两顿。”
So if you feel empty or lonely, why not cook a hotpot to fill your stomach and heart as well? Or, at least you can watch Pot of Fire.
因此，如果你感到空虚寂寞，为什么不来顿火锅填满你的胃和心呢？或者，你至少还可以看看《沸腾吧火锅》。
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