挑战筷子 美国女孩的中餐体验记

 　　The more books you read, the better your life will be. If you don’t believe me, please consider these twelve compelling reasons to read more books.

　　Orange chicken, beef and broccoli¹, a cup of fried rice and you have Chinese food. At least, that’s how I categorized the nation’s entire food supply until I came here. In China, food isn’t simply a meal for a foreigner. It’s an experience. Failing to order the right food and grappling with my chopsticks are only parts of the adventure when I sit down in a restaurant.

　　Ordering food has been one of the most challenging aspects of this trip. Often times, not every dish has a photograph displayed, so essentially² it all becomes a childish guessing game of my father and I guessing what type of vegetables or meat we’re eating. The experience can be just as grueling for the waiters as it can be for us. Waiters dread³ serving us since we take triple the time to order food in comparison to the locals. In one of our favorite Sichuan restaurants, it took 3 waiters and 15 minutes for us to order only our drinks. I simply wanted water, but my dad wanted to try one of the fresh juice options they had listed on the menu. There were two problems, however. There were neither pictures nor English on the menu. After several hand gestures and charades⁵, he ended up ordering just a coca cola to simplify things.

　　One of our most embarrassing moments, however, was at XiabuXiabu, a very famous hotpot chain. Whenever we had passed by the restaurant it was always busy, so we thought the place was worth a visit. We walked in and a girl was hollering through her microphone, and to my horror she was speaking to us. We didn’t know how to respond so we approached her and simply told her, “English.” She nodded to tell us she understood and had us wait until a couple seats opened up. Five minutes later she gestured us to sit down, and as soon as we did the entire restaurant, or so it seemed, stared at us. Uncomfortable already, we had the most difficulty ordering our meal, since there were so many steps to the entire process. Fortunately, the waitress was very patient and successfully gave us our food. Although it was not the best food I’d eaten in Beijing, it was certainly entertaining dropping things into the boiling pot of soup and watching the liquid ripple⁶ as the food helplessly drowned to the bottom of the pot. Too many times to count, however, noodles or pieces of lettuce⁷ slipped through my chopsticks onto the table. Once, I tried picking up a dumpling to show my father and dropped the ball onto his pants and we both stared at it as it rolled onto the floor. I looked behind me and people were snickering to themselves, obviously at my chopstick skills.

　　Chopsticks, however, are the least of my worries regarding food. The plethora⁸ of unusual foods can be interesting but also intimidating⁹. One night, my father and I were strolling down Wangfujing Food Street that’s packed with various food stalls. I saw every possible food... on a stick. Scorpions¹¹, sea horses, starfish, and snake were just a few of the meats available for grilling¹³. As I walked down the street, food vendors¹⁵ would poke¹⁶ their heads out and call to me to try their food since my foreign face stuck out in the crowd. Some of them would even tickle¹⁷ their scorpions on display to have their creepy, crawly legs fling about in the air.

　　Although I’m not willing to try food that still have their limbs attached to them, I am having a wonderful time trying out other street food. My hutong branches out from Nanluoguxiang, a popular tourist destination for food and random¹⁸ shopping. I’ve tried the fried tofu, slathered in sauce. I’ve also had a couple of Japanese fish balls which I enjoy eating as well as being made. The lady flipping²⁰ them over and shuffling²¹ the balls around with two flimsy skewers²³ amazes me every time. For breakfast on the weekends, I often have Chinese pancakes and banana milk. Other favorites of mine are spicy²⁴ corn cobs and scallops that are still in their shell dressed with garlic and noodles and grilled²⁵ over a hot fire.

　　The bakeries here are also worthy²⁶ of mentioning. With the pretentious²⁷ thinking that Americans are the best bakers²⁸, I was pleasantly surprised to taste Beijing’s heavenly bread. Not only is the quality very good, the options for different pastries²⁹ and bakeries are endless. One of my favorites, however, is Holiland Bakery. The kitchen is free for everyone to peer in since the glass separating it from the store is completely clear.

　　Other than Chinese food, I’ve been having a taste of other Asian foods as well. A couple of weeks ago, I had dinner at a restaurant that specialized³⁰ in Korean barbeque. We ordered lamb and beef and I had a field day trying the different colored sauces. The fresh meat that came off the grill¹² was exceptional, and Mary, our Chinese friend, showed us how to wrap the meat with carrots, onions, and sauce with a piece of leafy green lettuce.

　　When we visited Tianjin, we found a small, authentic³¹ Thai restaurant which was owned by an old Thai woman. The owner, maybe of about 75 years old, befriended us as we flipped³² through her menu standing³³ outside the restaurant. With her welcoming smile, she drew us in. On the walls hung many pictures of her and other people as well as people who seemed like Thai royalty³⁴. The Tom Yum soup, spinach³⁵, and chicken curry³⁶ were all superb.

　　Although I am from America, I can handle my fair share of spicy food. Our favorite restaurant, a nearby Sichuan restaurant, has the spiciest³⁷ dishes. We’ve tried the broiled³⁸ fish , tofu, fried cabbage, and fried lamb and we have yet to try more. The spice has just enough heat to bring tears to your eyes, a bright red shade to your lips, and the perfect amount of flavor to warm your soul.

　　Although we may have our fair share of difficulties regarding food, our experiences give the best stories to tell. No matter how bizarre the foods are or how challenging it is to understand the menu, the hospitality the waiters and waitresses grant us is exceptional. The servers are always very understanding of our situation. They always greet us and bid us farewell with a radiant smile, even when they realize they have to clean up the noodles slipped through my clumsy chopsticks.

　　Vocabulary

　　1. orange chicken: 陈皮鸡，这是在美国北部许多中式快餐店流行的一道中国菜，用甜橙口味的酱汁淋在炸鸡块上而做成；beef and broccoli: 西兰花炒牛肉。

　　2. grapple with: 努力对付，尽力克服（困难）。

　　3. 通常，（菜谱上）不是每道菜都配有照片，所以我和父亲会猜测我们正往嘴里塞的究竟是什么类型的蔬菜和肉，这基本上成为了我们两人之间一种幼稚的猜谜游戏。

　　4. grueling: 折磨人的，使人精疲力竭的。

　　5. dread: 不愿意，厌恶；triple: 三倍的量。

　　6. charade⁴: （用动作、图画或书写表示的）字谜游戏。

　　7. XiabuXiabu: 呷哺呷哺，一家吧台式火锅连锁餐饮店。

　　8. holler: 喊叫，大喊。

　　9. 虽然这不是我在北京吃过的最美味的食物，但把食材扔进沸腾的汤锅中，当食物无可奈何地下沉到锅底时，看着那液状的波纹，无疑是一件有趣的事儿。

　　10. lettuce: 莴笋，莴苣；slip: 滑脱，滑落。

　　11. snicker: 暗笑，窃笑。

　　12. plethora: 过多，太多；intimidating: 吓人的，令人恐惧的。

　　13. stroll: 散步，漫步；stall: 小摊，售货摊。

　　14. scorpion¹⁰: 蝎子；sea horse: 海马；starfish: 海星；grill: 在烤架上炙烤。

　　15. vendor¹⁴: 卖主，小贩；poke out: 伸出；strike out: 引人注意，突出。

　　16. tickle: 轻弹，轻摸；crawly: 〈口〉令人感到毛骨悚然的；fling: 挥动（手臂、腿等）。

　　17. branch out: 扩大（活动、兴趣等的）范围；Nanluoguxiang: 南锣鼓巷，北京东城区的一条著名胡同，位于北京历史文化保护区内。

　　18. flip¹⁹ over: 翻转，翻过来；shuffle³⁹: 把……移来移去，把……到处挪动；flimsy: 易损坏的，劣质的；skewer²²: 串肉签，烤肉叉。

　　19. cob: 玉米棒子芯，玉米穗轴；scallop: 扇贝，扇贝肉；dress with: 为……做配料。此处提到的两道菜分别是辣玉米棒子和蒜蓉粉丝烤扇贝。

　　20. bakery: 烘烤食品的总称（包括面包、糕饼和饼干等）。

　　21. pretentious: 自负的，自大的。

　　22. pastry⁴⁰: 各式烘烤糕点（如蛋糕、甜面包等）。

　　23. peer: 窥视。

　　24. field day: 特别愉快的时刻。

　　25. exceptional: 独特的，品质优良的；green lettuce: 生菜。

　　26. Tom Yum soup: 冬阴功汤，也称为泰式酸辣汤，是一道著名的泰国菜；spinach: 菠菜；superb: 极好的，最佳的。

　　27. broiled fish: 烤鱼。

　　28. 这辣劲恰好能让你泪水盈眶，唇边泛红，并为温暖你的心灵提供了完美的滋味。

　　29. bizarre: 稀奇古怪的，怪诞的；hospitality: 殷勤，好客；grant: 满足（愿望、要求等）。

　　30. radiant: 灿烂的，喜悦的；clumsy: 笨手笨脚的。

 

1 broccoli   

n.绿菜花，花椰菜

参考例句：

• She grew all the broccoli plants from seed.这些花椰菜都是她用种子培育出来的。
• They think broccoli is only green and cauliflower is only white.他们认为西兰花只有绿色的，而菜花都是白色的。

2 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

3 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

4 charade   

n.用动作等表演文字意义的字谜游戏

参考例句：

• You must not refine too much upon this charade.你切不可过分推敲这个字谜。
• His poems,despite their dignity and felicity,have an air of charade.他的诗篇虽然庄严巧妙，却有猜迷之嫌。

5 charades   

n.伪装( charade的名词复数 )；猜字游戏

参考例句：

• She and her three brothers played charades. 她和3个兄弟玩看手势猜字谜游戏。 来自辞典例句
• A group of children were dressed to play charades. 一群孩子穿着夜礼服在玩字迷游戏。 来自辞典例句

6 ripple   

n.涟波，涟漪，波纹，粗钢梳；vt.使...起涟漪，使起波纹； vi.呈波浪状，起伏前进

参考例句：

• The pebble made a ripple on the surface of the lake.石子在湖面上激起一个涟漪。
• The small ripple split upon the beach.小小的涟漪卷来，碎在沙滩上。

7 lettuce   

n.莴苣；生菜

参考例句：

• Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
• The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

8 plethora   

n.过量，过剩

参考例句：

• Java comes with a plethora of ready-made types.Java配套提供了数量众多的现成类型。
• A plethora of new operators will be allowed to enter the market.大批新的运营商将获准进入该市场。

9 intimidating   

vt.恐吓，威胁( intimidate的现在分词)

参考例句：

• They were accused of intimidating people into voting for them. 他们被控胁迫选民投他们的票。
• This kind of questioning can be very intimidating to children. 这种问话的方式可能让孩子们非常害怕。

10 scorpion   

n.蝎子，心黑的人，蝎子鞭

参考例句：

• The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。
• The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。

11 scorpions   

n.蝎子( scorpion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You promise me that Black Scorpions will never come back to Lanzhou. 你保证黑蝎子永远不再踏上兰州的土地。 来自电影对白
• You Scorpions are rather secretive about your likes and dislikes. 天蝎：蝎子是如此的神秘，你的喜好很难被别人洞悉。 来自互联网

12 grill   

n.烤架，铁格子，烤肉；v.烧，烤，严加盘问

参考例句：

• Put it under the grill for a minute to brown the top.放在烤架下烤一分钟把上面烤成金黄色。
• I'll grill you some mutton.我来给你烤一些羊肉吃。

13 grilling   

v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问

参考例句：

• The minister faced a tough grilling at today's press conference. 部长在今天的记者招待会上受到了严厉的盘问。
• He's grilling out there in the midday sun. 他在外面让中午火辣辣的太阳炙烤着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

15 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

16 poke   

n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• We never thought she would poke her nose into this.想不到她会插上一手。
• Don't poke fun at me.别拿我凑趣儿。

17 tickle   

v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒

参考例句：

• Wilson was feeling restless. There was a tickle in his throat.威尔逊只觉得心神不定。嗓子眼里有些发痒。
• I am tickle pink at the news.听到这消息我高兴得要命。

18 random   

adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动

参考例句：

• The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

19 flip   

vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的

参考例句：

• I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书，看来似乎很有趣。
• Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。

20 flipping   

讨厌之极的

参考例句：

• I hate this flipping hotel! 我讨厌这个该死的旅馆！
• Don't go flipping your lid. 别发火。

21 shuffling   

adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

22 skewer   

n.（烤肉用的）串肉杆；v.用杆串好

参考例句：

• I used a skewer to make an extra hole in my belt.我用扦子在腰带上又打了一个眼儿。
• He skewered his victim through the neck.他用扦子刺穿了受害人的脖子。

23 skewers   

n.串肉扦( skewer的名词复数 )；烤肉扦；棒v.（用串肉扦或类似物）串起，刺穿( skewer的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Damaged skewers and clogged bobbin holder. 木锭子破损，纱管支架底座阻塞。 来自互联网
• I heard you really like mutton skewers and that you can eat 50 at one time. 听说你特别爱吃羊肉串儿，一次能吃五十串儿。 来自互联网

24 spicy   

adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的

参考例句：

• The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
• Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。

25 grilled   

adj. 烤的, 炙过的, 有格子的 动词grill的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• He was grilled for two hours before the police let him go. 他被严厉盘查了两个小时后，警察才放他走。
• He was grilled until he confessed. 他被严加拷问，直到他承认为止。

26 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

27 pretentious   

adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的

参考例句：

• He is a talented but pretentious writer.他是一个有才华但自命不凡的作家。
• Speaking well of yourself would only make you appear conceited and pretentious.自夸只会使你显得自负和虚伪。

28 bakers   

n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三

参考例句：

• The Bakers have invited us out for a meal tonight. 贝克一家今晚请我们到外面去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bakers specialize in catering for large parties. 那些面包师专门负责为大型宴会提供食品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

29 pastries   

n.面粉制的糕点

参考例句：

• He gave a dry laugh, then sat down and started on the pastries. 杜新箨说着干笑一声，坐下去就吃点心。 来自子夜部分
• Mike: So many! I like Xijiang raisins, beef jerky, and local pastries. 麦克：太多了。我最喜欢吃新疆葡萄干、牛肉干和风味点心。

30 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

31 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

32 flipped   

轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥

参考例句：

• The plane flipped and crashed. 飞机猛地翻转，撞毁了。
• The carter flipped at the horse with his whip. 赶大车的人扬鞭朝着马轻轻地抽打。

33 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

34 royalty   

n.皇家，皇族

参考例句：

• She claims to be descended from royalty.她声称她是皇室后裔。
• I waited on tables，and even catered to royalty at the Royal Albert Hall.我做过服务生， 甚至在皇家阿伯特大厅侍奉过皇室的人。

35 spinach   

n.菠菜

参考例句：

• Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。
• You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。

36 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。

37 spiciest   

adj.用香料调味的( spicy的最高级 )；有香料味的；有刺激性的；（故事、新闻等） 刺激的

参考例句：

38 broiled   

a.烤过的

参考例句：

• They broiled turkey over a charcoal flame. 他们在木炭上烤火鸡。
• The desert sun broiled the travelers in the caravan. 沙漠上空灼人的太阳把旅行队成员晒得浑身燥热。

39 shuffle   

n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走

参考例句：

• I wish you'd remember to shuffle before you deal.我希望在你发牌前记得洗牌。
• Don't shuffle your feet along.别拖着脚步走。

40 pastry   

n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点

参考例句：

• The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry.厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
• The pastry crust was always underdone.馅饼的壳皮常常烤得不透。