生活在美国(二) 美国人的用餐习惯

梧****刀

美国人吃饭用刀叉，而且他们的用餐方式是很有讲究的。因此，在应邀与美国朋友一起吃饭时，应特别注意他们的用餐习惯。一般情况下，餐桌上摆放有一幅餐刀和两幅餐叉，外边的餐叉供你吃色拉，里边的餐叉用于吃主食和其它点心食品，餐刀用来切肉食。如果你两手并用，应左手握叉，右手握刀，而且一次握刀时间不能太长。美国人的早餐有：炒或煮鸡蛋、香肠、油炸土豆片、薄煎饼、果子冻、烤面包、松饼、桔子汁以及咖啡等。
　
　　Eating Custom and Practice 用餐习惯

　　American eating is funny. They eat almost everything with a fork, and it appears that holding a knife in one's right hand longer than a few seconds is considered to be against good table manners.
　　The system is that if it is absolutely necessary to use a knife, people take the fork in their left hand, and cut off a piece of meat or whatever it is in the normal manner. Then they put the knife down, transfer the fork to their right hand, and only then do they transport the food to their mouth. This is clearly ludicrous(滑稽可笑), but it is considered good manners.
　　There are several results of this system. First, if it is not absolutely necessary to use a knife, Americans don't use one, because obviously this greatly complicates(使复杂化) things, and you will therefore see them trying to cut things like potatoes, fish and even bacon(熏猪肉) with a fork. Second, towards the end of a course, since only one implement(器具) is being used, food has to bo chased around the plate with the fork — and for the last mouthful the thumb has to be used to keep the food in place, although one is not supposed to do this.
　　Third, tables are generally laid with one knife and two forks, the outside fork being for the salad. There is no need for foreign visitors to follow the American system and try to eat the salad with only a fork, but if you do use your knife, remerber to save it for the meat course. Even desserts(甜食) (except ice cream) are eaten with a fork if at all possible, and the spoon you see by your dessert is meant to be for coffee (but if you use it for your dessert no one will say anything).

　　Some Breakfast Dishes 早餐食谱

　　Breakfast in a restaurant is a very enjoyable experience. If you order eggs in a restaurant, the waiter/waitress will ask you how you want them . You can reply that you want them "scrambled(炒)" or "boiled". It is not sufficient, however, to ask for them "fried"; you will have to specify whether you would prefer them "sunny-side-up" (煎一面), "over"(两面煎), "over-easy/easy-over"(两面煎，但蛋黄仍然呈流体状).
　　American sausage(香肠) comes in slices and is quite spicy. But you can also have link sausage.
　　American bacon comes in small st**s, can be rather fat, and is served crispy. It is usually very tasty, and you can eat it with your fingers.
　　"Hash brows"(油炸土豆片) are shredded(切成碎片的) and fried potatoes. They are wonderful, especially with fried eggs and ketchup(番茄酱).
　　"Pancakes", sometimes called "hot cakes", are made with baking power. They are normally served in a pile, and you are supposed to put butter and syrup(果浆) on them.
"Jelly"(果子冻) is jam and includes grape jelly, which is very tasty.
Toast is often served already buttered.
　　"English muffins(松饼)" are like small crumpets(烤饼) without the holes and are served toasted. You put jam on them.
　　A "biscuit"(软饼) is a snall, scone-like bread roll, often served hot.
　　Orange juice and coffee are often serced with breakfast.

5***l

Food 美式食物


　　"You are what you eat." Nutrition experts often use this saying to promote better eating habits. What we put in our mouths does become a part of us. But we can look at this statement another way. What we eat reflects who we are--as people and as a culture. Do you want to understand another culture? Then you ought to find out about its food. Learning about American food can give us a real taste of American culture.

　　"你吃什么就成为什么样子"营养专家经常使用这句话来倡导更好的饮食习惯，入嘴的东西确实成为我们的一部分．但我们也可以从另一个角度来看这句话，我们所吃的反映出我们自己－－不论就人或文化而言．你想了解另一种文化吗？那么你应该去认识他们的食物．认识美国食物可以让我们得知美国文化的精髓。


　　What is "American food"? At first you might think the answer is easy as pie. To many people, American food means hamburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken and pizza. If you have a "sweet tooth," you might even think of apple pie or chocolate chip cookies. It's true that Americans do eat those things. But are those the only kind of vittles you can find in America?

　　何谓「美式食物」？乍听之下你可能认为答案容易得很。对许多人而言，美式食物就是汉堡、热狗、炸鸡和披萨。如果你是好吃甜食的人，你可能会想到苹果派或巧克力片饼干。美国人确实吃这些东西，但这些就是你在美国唯一找得到的食物吗？


　　Except for Thanksgiving turkey, it's hard to find a typically "American" food. The United States is a land of immigrants. So Americans eat food from many different countries. When people move to America, they bring their cooking styles with them. That's why you can find almost every kind of ethnic food in America. In some cases, Americans have adopted foods from other countries as favorites. Americans love Italian pizza, Mexican tacos and Chinese egg rolls. But the American version doesn't taste quite like the original!

　　除了感恩节火鸡以外，挺难找到典型的美国食物。美国是个**之地，所以美国人吃的食物来自许多不同的国家，当人们移居美国，他们也将自己的烹调带了进来。那也就是为什么在美国你几乎可以看到所有不同民族的食物。在某些情况中，美国人把外国的食物视为最爱。美国人喜爱意大利的披萨，墨西哥的玉米饼和中国的春卷，但是这些东西的美国版味道却不很道地！


　　As with any large country, the U.S.A has several distinct regions. Each region boasts its own special style of food. Visit the South and enjoy country-style cooking. Journey through Louisiana for some spicy Cajun cuisine. Take a t** to New England and sample savory seafood dishes. Travel through the Midwest, "the breadbasket of the nation," for delicious baked goods. Cruise over to the Southwest and try some tasty Tex-Mex treats. Finish your food tour in the Pacific Northwest with some gourmet coffee.

　　和许多大国一样，美国有数个截然不同的地区，每个地区都以自己特有的食物夸口。走访美国南部享受乡村式的烹调；到路易斯安纳州品尝辛辣的凯郡式料理；走一趟新英格兰试尝它美味的海鲜；再到中西部「美国的面包之乡」品尝可口的烘培食品；乘船游览至西南部尝试一些好吃的墨式德州小吃，最后到太平洋西北岸，啜饮美食家的咖啡，作为美食之旅的句点。


　　Americans living at a fast pace often just "grab a quick bite." Fast food restaurants offer people on the run everything from fried chicken to fried rice. Microwave dinners and instant foods make cooking at home a snap. Of course, one of the most common quick American meals is a sandwich. If it can fit between two slices of bread, Americans probably make a sandwich out of it. Peanut butter and jelly is an all-time American favorite.

　　生活在快速步调之下的美国人通常只能「很快地吃几口」。快餐店提供赶时间的人各种食物，从炸鸡到炒饭，应有尽有。微波炉晚餐和实时餐点使得在家烧饭省事又快速。当然，最平常的美式速餐之一就是三明治。任何能夹在两片土司中间的东西，美国人就可以把它作成一份三明治，花生酱和果酱更是一直都深受美国人的喜爱。


　　Americans on the go also tend to eat a lot of "junk food." Potato chips, candy bars, soft drinks and other goodies are popular treats. Many people eat too many of these unhealthy snacks. But others opt for more healthy eating habits. Some even go "all natural." They refuse to eat any food prepared with chemicals or additives.

　　忙碌的美国人也趋向于吃一大堆「垃圾食物」。洋芋片、糖果、汽水和其它好吃的东西都颇受欢迎。许多人吃了太多这类不健康的零嘴，但是其它人则选择较健康的饮食习惯，有些人甚至选择「全天然」的食物，他们拒绝吃任何有化学制品或添加物的食物。


　　American culture is a good illustration of the saying "you are what you eat." Americans represent a wide range of backgrounds and ways of thinking. The variety of foods enjoyed in the U.S. reflects the diversity of personal tastes. The food may be international or regional. Sometimes it's fast, and sometimes it's not so fast. It might be junk food, or maybe it's natural food. In any case, the style is all-American.

　　美国文化是「你吃什么就成为什么样子」这句话的好写照。美国人代表了范围广泛的背景和想法。在美国可享受到的各式食物正反映出个人品味的多样化。这食物可能是国际性也可能是地区性的；有时是快餐，有时也不见得；它可能是垃圾食物，也可能是天然食品。然而无论如何，它们都是美式的。

5***l

Cooking 美式烹饪

　　At a local supermarket, two women push half-filled grocery carts. The ladies are good friends, but they couldn't be more different. One is a stay-at-home housewife who loves to create culinary masterpieces from scratch. The other is a training supervisor at a prestigious advertising agency. Household chores, particularly those in the kitchen, are not her idea of fun. The two ladies stop for a moment in the frozen foods section. "I'm so tired," sighs the professional woman. "I don't know what to do about supper." Her friend suggests, "What about a microwave dinner?" The weary professional sighs, "No, I don't feel like cooking tonight."

　　在一间本地的超市里，两位女士推着半满的购物车。这两位女士是好朋友，但两人之间的差异是大得不能再大了。一位是持家的主妇，她喜欢大展厨艺，从全生的作料，一步一步创造佳肴杰作。另一位是在一家颇具声望的广告公司任职人事训练主管。家务琐事，特别是厨房事，并非她乐趣所在。二位女士在冷冻食物区前停了一会儿。职业妇女叹道：「我好累，我不知晚餐要作什么好。」她的朋友建议说：「何不来一顿微波炉晚餐。」这位疲惫的职业妇女又叹道：「不，我今晚不想作饭。」


　　If you think American cooking means opening a package and tossing the contents into the microwave, think again. On the one hand, it's true that Americans thrive on cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and instant dinners. From busy homemakers to professional people, many Americans enjoy the convenience of prepackaged meals that can be ready to serve in 10 minutes or less. On the other hand, many Americans recognize the value of cooking skills. Parents-especially mothers-see the importance of training their children-especially daughters-in the culinary arts. Most Americans will admit that there's nothing better than a good home-cooked meal. But with cooking, as with any other skill, good results don't happen by accident.

　　假如您以为美式烹饪就是打开一个料理盒而将里头的东西拋进微波炉加热，那你得改变想法了。从某一方面来说，美国人以早餐的冷麦片，午餐的三明治及快餐晚餐而发育健壮，这倒是真的。从忙碌的家庭主妇到上班族，许多美国人喜欢享受事先包装好的便餐所带来的方便，这些速餐在不到10分钟内就可上桌。从另一个角度来看，许多美国人都认同厨艺的价值。父母亲--特别是妈妈看到训练孩子，尤其是女儿，烹饪艺术的重要性。大多数的美国人都承认没有什么比得上一顿自家做的餐点。而谈到烹饪，一如其它的技巧，好的成果并非偶然天成的。


　　Probably every cook has his or her own cooking style. But there are some basic techniques and principles that most people follow. For example, baking is a primary method of preparing food in America. The dinner menu often has casseroles, roast meats and other baked goods. For that reason, Americans would find it next to impossible to live without an oven. American cooks give special attention to the balance of foods, too. In planning a big meal they try to include a meat, a few vegetables, some bread or pasta and often a dessert. They also like to make sure the meal is colorful. Having several different colors of food on the plate usually makes for a healthy meal.

　　大概每一位厨师都有他自己的烹饪方式。但仍有一些基本方法和原则是大多数的人遵行的。例如，烘培在美国是烹饪的一种主要方法，晚餐菜单上通常有「焗烤菜」，烤肉及其它的烘培食物。因此，美国人会觉得没有烤箱几乎是无法过活。美国厨师们也特别留意食物的均衡。在计划一顿大餐时，他们会试着加入肉，几样蔬菜，一些面包或面食，而且通常有甜点。他们也喜欢使餐点色彩亮丽。若盘中有不同色彩的食物，通常令人觉得是健康的一餐。


　　For those who need guidance in their cooking, or for those who have just run out of ideas, recipes are lifesavers. Recipes list all the ingredients for a dish (generally in the order used), the amount of each to use, and a desc**tion of how to put them together. Finding recipes in America is as easy as pie. Most good cooks have a shelf full of cookbooks ranging from locally published recipe collections to national bestsellers like the Betty Crocker Cookbook. Magazines devoted to home management, such as Good Housekeeping and Family Circle, are chock-full of scrumptious selections. Friends often augment their recipe collection by passing around their favorites written on cards.

　　对于那些在烹饪方面需要指导、或已江郎才尽的人，食谱就是救星。食谱列出做每一道菜所需要的所有材料(通常是依照使用的顺序列出)，每一种的用量以及如何将它们搭配的说明。在美国寻找食谱可谓易如反掌。大多数的好厨师们都有一架子的食谱，从本地出版的各式食谱到像「蓓蒂?克劳克」的全国畅销食谱。一般理家杂志，如「好管家」及「家庭圈」都满满地刊载很多美味的精选食谱。朋友们经常把自己最爱的食谱写在卡片上，相互传阅，来增加自己的食谱收藏。


　　For experienced cooks, true artists that they are, recipes are merely reference points. They often make adjustments as they go along, depending on the quantity of people they need to serve, the ingredients they have available and their personal taste. Some cooks use recipes very little, preferring instead to depend on their intuition as they add a pinch of this and a dash of that to create just the right flavors.

　　对于经验丰富的厨师，他们是真正的艺术家，食谱仅仅是作为参考，他们常常一边做菜，一边依照他们宴请的人数，现有的作料以及个人的口味，来调整食谱。有些厨师们很少参照食谱，反而比较喜欢凭自己的直觉加一点这个，加一点那个，来作出刚好的味道。


　　Of course, Americans don't have a corner on the market when it comes to good cooking. Wherever you go in the world, people love to eat. As a result, every culture and nationality has its own share of mouth-watering delicacies. And America, as a "land of immigrants," has imported practically all varieties of cooking. Most good cooks in America are "fluent" in several cooking "dialects": Mexican, Italian, Chinese and good old American style, just to name a few. But whatever the dialect, cooking is a language everyone understands.

　　当然，谈到好厨艺，美国人并非独占鳌头，无论您到世界何处，人们总是爱吃。所以，每一个文化及国家都有它特有的、令人垂涎三尺的佳肴。而美国，这个「**之地」实际上也引进了各式的烹调。在美国大多数的名厨对于几种烹饪「方言」都很「流利」。随便举几个例子：墨西哥、意大利、中国以及传统美国风味。且不论那一种「方言」，烹饪是一种人人皆懂的语言。