在這個什麼都愛炫愛耀的年代，Fremont的小火車絕對是你其中一個Facebook分享理由 – 我來到了全美第一間迴轉火鍋店啦，是不是很羨慕？

小火車這個名字很妙，故名思義，就是把「小小」的「火鍋」配料從「車」上送到面前，也就是其最大賣點。今年10月開店以來，不少貪玩的食客慕名而來，一嚐迴轉壽司的兄弟 – 「迴轉火鍋」的滋味。

四名老闆之一的Adam笑說有時候還是會有客人以為他們是做壽司的，無他吧！迴轉火鍋雖然在台灣已發展成熟，在美國還是新鮮事。就是這一點「新鮮」，四位年輕人看到了商機，決定把台灣的「玩」和「味」完整地帶來，給美國食客固有的火鍋形象一個全新定義。

玩 – 說的當然是迴轉火鍋輸送機，一人一鍋的概念。

小火車的出現絕對冒險，沒人知道它的被接受程度。美國食客對火鍋仍存舊有印相，就是一群朋友點很多很多菜，選擇湯底要少數服從多數，大家圍著一個鍋滾啊滾，什麼熟了就夾上來，想吃丸子嗎？好啊，夾給你，最後自己吃過什麼都糊里糊塗的。Adam 深明此理，毅然放膽一試，把迴轉概念放到火鍋，一人一鍋，想吃什麼就拿什麼，想要什麼湯就點什麼湯。

在車上走來走去的配菜價錢及份量極其個人化，每碟99分錢起，剛好一人份量。由於種類繁多，筆者挑選配菜時有如皇帝選妃之感，看到「秀色可餐」的就敏捷地取來，「寵幸」完一款又一款，可不要給你身旁的朋友搶走哦！小火車的好玩之處大概就是這樣，這個領導人般的權力感在那裡可以找得到？

小火車的人均消費約20元，老闆Adam透露小部分客人不理解其價之所值，實在有點無奈。若說當中一半是花在「玩」上，應該不過份。筆者一踏進小火車就看到三台輸送機，非常震撼！為了讓客人坐得舒服，每台桌子就只有23個凹型火鍋，根本不會出現「超載」情況，完全做到一人一個空間。而且輸送機本來就價值不菲，耗電非常，亦須安排專員添補新鮮配菜，確保客人拿到想吃的。老闆在背後花過的心思客人未必會想像到，這個雙十數字，實在合理。

味 – 說的就是正宗的台灣風味。

有人說Fremont愈來愈像個台北了。只要是出於Fremont的，幾乎所有台式食店的水準都不錯，食客的口味也愈來愈刁鑽。老闆Peter告訴我們小火車不但要達到「Fremont」水準，還要做到味中之最！幾位老闆來往台美兩地頻繁，常作美食交流 –業界非常有名，掌管湯底製作及配菜質素的現任小火車大廚，就是Peter專程從台灣聘請過來的，俗語有云「不是猛龍不過江」，看來大廚真的給我們美國食客帶來了一點台灣「真」味道。

小火車一共有8款自選湯底，其中台式麻辣鍋、牛奶養顏鍋、臭臭鍋和養生藥膳鍋最受歡迎。台式麻辣鍋還有5個辣度可選，不少客人還真敢挑戰5級辣度的，筆者就只敢嗜個1級辣度的，已經差不多要噴火，不過那種辣香絕對上瘾，相當刺激；筆者最愛的牛奶養顏鍋果真奶味極濃，把羊肉涮下去，瞬間就吸收了奶味，筆者最喜歡吃沾上奶味的羊肉，不用點醬已經好好吃；臭臭鍋和養生藥膳鍋根本就是兩個「嗅覺引誘」武器！臭臭鍋臭得來很香是常識，但想不到一打開養生藥膳鍋，那個濃濃的藥材香撲鼻而來，感覺真材實料！

吃火鍋當然少不了配菜。除了迴轉配菜之外，還有九個精心設計的套餐，如上選雞肉、海鮮、豬肉、神戶牛肉套餐…旨有菜有肉，每個套餐都附有豆腐、金針菇、生菜、丸子、蝦等等，營養均衡。筆者點了個羊肉套餐，已經非常豐盛夠吃，但還是被款式極多的特色配菜迷到…天啊，竟然有蛋餃、菠菜麵和天婦羅！小手又不自覺把美食拿下來了。一些食物為保持新鮮不會「上車」，客人仍可隨時回顧菜單，服務員會把新鮮食物(如：扇貝、生蠔) 送上。

雖然小火車已經很自助了，但也別忘記自助調醬啊，不調也不知道自己有廚藝天份呢。還有一個題外話，小火車開業以來大受歡迎，現正招人，喜歡吃火鍋的你可考慮加入這個大家庭！

43817-43829 Boscell Rd Fremont, CA 94538(510) 657-5555

Thelittlehotpot.com

新推出: 週一至四下午5時後迴轉火鍋任吃 (成人$22.95/ 小童$12.49)

New “Little Hot Pot” Restaurant opens in Fremont

Hot pot is one of the most traditional dishes in Chinese cuisine, especially within the country of Taiwan. Most Asian cuisines have their own version of hotpot, whether it resembles more of a noodle soup or stew dish, but Taiwanese hotpot is renowned for its simple formula of broth and a wide range of accompanying foods that you place into the boiling soup to cook and enjoy.

Little Hot Pot brings a new twist to the classic Taiwanese delicacy in Fremont. Started by a group of four friends in the Bay Area, their inspiration to open this restaurant came from their shared passion for the authentic Taiwanese hotpot and culture. That brings in the topic of the “twist” to this classic: the restaurant’s layout is incredibly modern and chic, resembling the atmosphere of a lounge that one would visit after work for drinks and socializing. Bright textured orange wall decor, crystal chandeliers, stainless steel serving carousels, and electronic music adorn the place, giving it a completely unique feeling than that of the average hotpot restaurant, much less Chinese restaurant.

The creators wanted to provide the best of both worlds to their customers–a hip and lively environment in which to enjoy a timeless dish, with countless menu and drink choices. Little Hotpot offers 8 different choices of broth, and all these are prepared by the head chef who was brought from Taiwan to ensure the most authentic flavor. There is also a “Sauce Bar” with a plethora of different sauces, dips, and condiments for customers to create a sauce that best suits their taste. Another one of the restaurant’s highlights is a sleek rotating carousel that loops infinitely around the tables. Similar to the sushi boat concept, customers are able to pick the condiments they want directly off the moving belt and directly cook it in their own pot.

The Little Hotpot offers a unique dining experience with authentic flavor and a diverse range of meal options. The restaurant is especially popular with younger audience, but it still all-age and family appropriate. Stop by sometime to try out some of the “Taiwanese Spicy”, “Tom Yum”, “Creamy Milk” or the widely loved “Stinky Pot” broth, and mix-and-match your own ingredients (beef, lamb, chicken, seafood combos and more) to create the ultimate personalized hotpot!