VOA标准英语2012--'Personal Touch' Helps Family Eatery Thrive

 

'Personal Touch' Helps Family Eatery Thrive¹

It's another busy day at Primo Family Restaurant, a popular dining spot in Alexandria, Virginia, for more than 25 years. C.A. Savoy says, he doesn't like the atmosphere or food at the chain restaurants.

“Everything in here is home cooking," Savoy says. "It’s all fresh food and delicious.”

Server² Tina Mitrakas has worked at Primo’s since it opened. “I like my customers. Everybody is friendly. I like the people I work with. It’s like my second home.”

Lynne Sepple's son Nick is here, celebrating his birthday. “My son has been here since he was six days old. He’s been here once a week since then and now he’s 10.”

Mary Wise, who often stops by after work, says Primo’s feels comfortable. “It is a place where you can consistently³ have good food, not too expensive. You know you’re never going to be confronted⁴ with something that’s a surprise. I think people like that.”

Another appeal, she says, is owner Jim Nicopoulos who is often seen mingling⁵ with patrons⁶ in the dining room.

“I like to get involved with my clients," he says. "I find out about them. I touch them. I have to be involved with my customers and my staff at the same time.”

Everyone calls him Jimmy, including Savoy and his wife who are long-time patrons.

“We’ve become part of Jimmy’s family now," Savoy says. "He refers to Joyce and I as his mother and father.”

Nicopoulos bought Primo’s five years ago, and it is truly a family business, from the old photos of relatives on the wall, to the dining area, where his father-in-law⁷ seats patrons, to the kitchen, where his cousin Spiro Routoulas prepares Greek⁸ specialties⁹.

“He’s a funny guy," Routoulas says. "He comes inside the kitchen and tastes what I make. Oh, it’s fun.”

Besides the food and friendliness¹⁰, Nicopoulos believes Primo’s has another appeal over the chain restaurants.

“Chain restaurants have to go through a process of buying their food from large industries and distributors," he says. "We can get our produce local and our meats.”

Elizabeth Bessel notices the difference. That's why she stays away from the nearby chains.

“I don’t find the food [there] to be that great," she says. "When I eat here, Jimmy will come to the table and tell us that he got that produce from somebody’s farm.”

Nicopoulos thinks there’s room in the neighborhood for both family and chain restaurants.

Customer C.A. Savoy agrees. “It’s been here for 25 years and I see it being here for 25 more years.”

1 thrive   

v.兴旺，繁荣，茁壮成长

参考例句：

• These animals thrive on the leaves of certain trees.这些动物靠吃某些树的叶子长壮。
• This flowering plant will thrive and bloom wherever you plant it.这种花随便你种在哪儿都能活。

2 server   

n.服伺者，服勤者，伺候者

参考例句：

• The server is introducing the pub.侍者正在介绍这家酒吧.
• My server is having problems this morning.我的服务器今天早上出了问题。

3 consistently   

ad.一贯地，一直

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。
• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law. 部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。

4 confronted   

面对( confront的过去式和过去分词 )； 使面对； 使对质； 处理

参考例句：

• When we confronted him, he denied everything. 我们与他当面对质时，他什么都不承认。
• The writer confronted his pile of work with determination. 那作家下决心面对成堆的工作。

5 mingling   

adj.混合的

参考例句：

• There was a spring of bitterness mingling with that fountain of sweets. 在这个甜蜜的源泉中间，已经掺和进苦涩的山水了。
• The mingling of inconsequence belongs to us all. 这场矛盾混和物是我们大家所共有的。

6 patrons   

赞助人( patron的名词复数 )； 资助人； 老主顾； 名义赞助人（支持慈善组织等的名人，名字常用于有关的广告宣传中）

参考例句：

• "Of course. Every hotel depends upon the repute of its patrons. “当然啦，每家旅馆都要依靠其主顾的名声。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Patrons are requested to leave their bags in the cloakroom. 顾客请将手提包留在衣帽间。

7 father-in-law   

n.岳父，公公

参考例句：

• He met his future father-in-law during his visit to Boston.他在波士顿小住期间遇见了他未来的岳父。
• His father-in-law is a plantation manager.他岳父是个种植园经营者。

8 Greek   

adj.希腊(人)的，希腊语的；n.希腊人；希腊语

参考例句：

• The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。
• Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet.δ是希腊字母中的第四个字母。

9 specialties   

n.专门，特性，特别；专业( specialty的名词复数 )；特性；特制品；盖印的契约

参考例句：

• Great Books are popular, not pedantic. They are not written by specialists about specialties for specialists. 名著绝不引经据典，艰深难懂，而是通俗易读。它们不是专家为专业人员撰写的专业书籍。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Brain drains may represent a substantial reduction in some labor force skills and specialties. 智力外流可能表示某种劳动力技能和特长大量减少。 来自辞典例句

10 friendliness   

n.友谊，亲切，亲密

参考例句：

• Behind the mask of friendliness,I know he really dislikes me.在友善的面具后面，我知道他其实并不喜欢我。
• His manner was a blend of friendliness and respect.他的态度友善且毕恭毕敬。