Natasha Pickowicz & the Magic of Hot Pot

The "Everyone Hot Pot" author is our guest on today's Radio Cherry Bombe

Cherry Bombe

Jan 26, 2026

Honey, Let’s Hot Pot with Natasha Pickowicz

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“I’m not just More Than Cake!” laughs Natasha Pickowicz.

Oh, don’t we know it.

The bake sale champ, mind-bending pastry chef, and expert doodler has a new cookbook this year and it’s all about hot pot. “People want to hang out in a low-stakes way at home,” she tells host Kerry Diamond this week. “Hot pot is a context for coming together. It’s not precious.” All you need is a tabletop stove (like this, this, or this) and a great broth recipe.

For those who don’t know, hot pot is a vast and varied tradition across Asia (and beyond) that centers around a simmering pot of broth in the center of the table. A smattering of vegetables and proteins are ready nearby for poaching in the broth, then swiping through a dipping sauce, if you desire. As you can sense, the possibilities are infinite, which is why we need Natasha as our guide. She describes the experience with ecstasy. “You go into this hypnotic state…” as the layers of flavor take over, she says.

Natasha grew up eating and loving hot pot, and has been hosting hot pot dinners for friends in her apartment, so the book was always in her, on a low simmer. “I’ve been waiting for this moment,” she tells Kerry. So have we, we just didn’t know it.