I am from Brasil and I would LOVE it!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes, you actually serve yourself with chopsticks straight from the pot. You can turn the chopsticks around and serve yourself with the ends, but normally we just all dig in with the ends we're eating with. I could always give everyone a second set for serving themselves.

Gross!

So, I guess you don't eat fondue..... you are missing big time!

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't like it, but that's me. I never go adventurous with new dinner guests. Classic is safe the first time. Why not ask if what you're planning is ok? There is no harm in that.

+1 Give them a choice if you decide to ask ahead of time. Because they might just say okay to be polite if they aren't given a choice.

I wouldn't like it, but that's me. I never go adventurous with new dinner guests. Classic is safe the first time. Why not ask if what you're planning is ok? There is no harm in that.

Maybe try something plain like a chicken or fish dish. And then maybe something like this on their second dinner over at your place once you get to know them a bit better? Are you Japanese from Japan so they would expect or hope for this kind of dish?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as there was no double dipping or used utensils going into the communal pot I wouldnt mind.

+1,000

You guys are nuts. Are you seriously worried about that? I suggest you NEVER eat in a restaurant again..

If there is a large pot, and people are serving themselves, as in put the food on their plate and then eating it. Then I'd be fine with it. But if you are saying you take chopsticks, pick up food from the pot, eat it off the chopsticks, and then put them back into the pot, I'd be grossed out.

But it seems like you could do something similar and offer a serving utensil, right?

Anonymous wrote:As long as there was no double dipping or used utensils going into the communal pot I wouldnt mind.

+1,000

OP, this sounds like a really yummy meal. I would double check labels on everything for gluten free, e.g., fish sauce sometimes can have gluten. It depends on the brand.

Also, if you're looking for snacks before dinner I like Glutino brand pretzels and many corn chips are GF and usually salsa is GF. (Not sure if you're sticking to a theme in terms of cuisine.)

Also, these are my favorite cookies if you're looking for a simple dessert:
http://pamelasproducts.com/products/cookies-and-biscotti/cookies/espresso-chocolate-chunk-cookies/

Why don't you ask them beforehand? I'd appreciate a heads up and chance to decline if I were your guests. I wouldn't mind eating out of a communal pot if it were immediate family.

I don't think I'd like this.

I'd probably stick to something where the guest can know for sure there's no gluten. A protein, a veggie side or two, a salad, rice.

Why not use a ladle or serving spoon to avoid the chopsticks dipping issue?

PP here. Yeah, harusame are usually potato starch! They are great for hot pot

I think they are going to LOVE this meal! God, just reading this thread makes me want to eat shabu shabu with plenty of frosty Japanese beer right now...

OP here. Thanks so much! I had a hard time finding the gomadare last time and ended up using gomadare tsuyu, which was definitely not the same. I'll try the recipes you posted.

Also, I used harusame for the noodles last time, and they seem to hold up okay. I'm not sure if they're rice based on made out of something else, as I couldn't read the ingredient list.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Yes, you actually serve yourself with chopsticks straight from the pot. You can turn the chopsticks around and serve yourself with the ends, but normally we just all dig in with the ends we're eating with. I could always give everyone a second set for serving themselves.

Gross!