"hot pot" news and stories

• An ode to romaine: It's not just for Caesar anymore.
• They may sound one step away from a Hot Pocket, but Japanese hot pots couldn't be further away -- and they're really, really hot.
• Speaking of Hot Pockets, you weren't considering going on a cleanse, were you?
• This reviewer has a fever for the flavor of former "Top Chef" winner Ilan Hall's quirky downtown L.A. restaurant, the Gorbals.

Anime, Japanese-style animation, has become increasingly popular over the years. I remember watching bootleg copies of Dragon Ball Z movies with my friends in high school. A couple years later I was delighted to see whole (albeit small) sections of anime at video stores like Suncoast. I was pleasantly surprised, and very amused, to find this list of the top eight foods in anime from Cosplay Classes.

1 Number one is ramen. I guess it's iconic to show characters slurping up the noodles.
2. Sushi, the quintessntial Japanese food.
3. Dessert is probably more prevalent in shows geared toward women.
4. Curry sure has made it's mark.
5. I had no idea pasta was so popular.
6. Apparently hamburgers are getting a lot of screen time.
7. The Japanese hot pot is a derivation of a Chinese dish.
8. Onigiri are simple to make and all kinds of anime characters put it in their bento boxes.