背景介绍

【背景】

概述

国家的历史有长有短，疆域有大有小，实力有强有弱，人口有多有少，民族构成、宗教信仰、政权性质和经济结构也有差异，故而各国的饮食文化是不一样的。
　　在中国传统文化教育中的阴阳五行哲学思想、儒家伦理道德观念、中医营养摄生学说，还有文化艺术成就、饮食审美风尚、民族性格特征诸多因素的影响下，创造出彪炳史册的中国烹饪技艺，形成博大精深的中国饮食文化。
　　从沿革看，中国饮食文化绵延170多万年，分为生食、熟食、自然烹饪、科学烹饪4个发展阶段，推出6万多种传统菜点、2万多种工业食品、五光十色的筵宴和流光溢彩的风味流派，获得“烹饪王国”的美誉。
　　从内涵上看，中国饮食文化涉及到食源的开发与利用、食具的运用与创新、食品的生产与消费、餐饮的服务与接待、餐饮业与食品业的经营与管理，以及饮食与国泰民安、饮食与文学艺术、饮食与人生境界的关系等，深厚广博。
　　从外延看，中国饮食文化可以从时代与技法、地域与经济、民族与宗教、食品与食具、消费与层次、民俗与功能等多种角度进行分类，展示出不同的文化品味，体现出不同的使用价值，异彩纷呈。
　　从特质看，中国饮食文化突出养助益充的营卫论（素食为主，重视药膳和进补），并且讲究“色、香、味”俱全。五味调和的境界说（风味鲜明，适口者珍，有“舌头菜”之誉），奇正互变的烹调法（厨规为本，灵活变通），畅神怡情的美食观（文质彬彬，寓教于食）等4大属性，有着不同于海外各国饮食文化的天生丽质。中国的饮食文化除了讲究菜肴的色彩搭配要明媚如画外，还要搭配用餐的氛围产生的一种情趣，它是中华民族的个性与传统，更是中华民族传统礼仪的凸现方式。
　　从影响看，中国饮食文化直接影响到日本、蒙古、朝鲜、韩国、泰国、新加坡等国家，是东方饮食文化圈的轴心；与此同时，它还间接影响到欧洲、美洲、非洲和大洋洲，像中国的素食文化、茶文化、酱醋、面食、药膳、陶瓷餐具和大豆等，都惠及全世界数十亿人。
　　总之，中国饮食文化是一种广视野、深层次、多角度、高品位的悠久区域文化；是中华各族人民在100多万年的生产和生活实践中，在食源开发、食具研制、食品调理、营养保健和饮食审美等方面创造、积累并影响周边国家和世界的物质财富及精神财富。

摘自百度百科

英文原文

【原文】

A Healing Cuisine

Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed in all four corners of the world. Who could not confess to longing for a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting concept concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard of in the West, and which is becoming increasingly ignored by the youth of the East—the ancient custom of “tonic food.”

Tonic food is food which is consumed to improve one’s well-being, or stave off sickness, particularly at times when one is more prone to illness. For instance, it was once the custom for new mothers to eat a sesame- oil hot pot every day for the first month after giving birth. It was believed that this dish would benefit the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulation, stimulate sweating, and warm the body.

In fact, these Chinese beliefs parallel some Western theories of health, although each takes a different path toward the very same goal. Western medicine actually recommends some of the exact same ingredients that make up the chicken hot pot dish. Sesame oil has been found to promote contraction of the womb while providing lots of calories, and chicken meat is particularly high in protein. Any Western doctor should be happy to suggest such a Chinese dish after childbirth.

The elderly, weak, and young can also benefit greatly from tonic foods, especially during the winter. Some foods, such as goat meat and spinach, are seen as “hot,” while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radish, are seen as “cold.” One should be careful not to eat too much of either “hot” or “cold” food. However, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat depends on the time of the year, how the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s health.

“Warm” or “cool” tonic foods are strongly recommended. The choices for “warm” and “cool” foods range from simple sea cucumber to the delicacy of bird’s nest soup, depending on the individual’s economic circumstances.

The concept of tonic food is far from losing credibility, either with Westerners or practitioners of modern medicine. For example, up until two years ago, tonic foods were added to the meals served at a renowned hospital.

The custom of prescribing tonic foods for a healthier life also spills over into the catering industry. Although tonic foods themselves are losing popularity among the younger generation, Chinese herbal medicines, such as wolfberry fruit, can be found on many a restaurant menu, either added to fruit tea or as a beneficial addition to a dish. These herbs attract customers, such as over-worked office staff, in need of a modest pick-me-up.

So, whether you need to boost your masculinity with a large helping of bull penis, or increase your mental powers with a serving of pig’s brain soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be just the tonic you were looking for.

中文译文

【中文译文】

食补─中国吃的艺术

中国菜誉满天下，为全世界人所喜爱。谁敢说自己不想尝一道美味的中国佳肴？不过中国菜有个有趣的观念──“食补”，这个古老的习俗在西方几乎是前所未闻，而在东方则逐渐被年轻人忽视。

食补是指通过食用某些食物以增进健康，或防止疾病，尤其在人容易生病的时候。举个例子，在过去的习俗里，产妇在产后一个月内每天都要吃麻油鸡。人们认为这道菜对肌肉有益，并能减轻疼痛、促进循环、刺激排汗和暖和身子。

事实上，这些中国人的信念与西方的某些健康理论相似，可谓殊途同归。西方医学确实建议摄食几种和麻油鸡材料相同的成份。经证实麻油可以促进子宫收缩，同时提供高热量，而鸡肉的蛋白质含量特别高。西方国家的医生应该也乐于建议妇女产后食用这道中国菜。

老年人、体弱者和年轻人也可以从食补中获得很大收益，尤其在冬季。一些像羊肉和菠菜之类的食物，被视为“热性”食物，其它如大白菜及小红萝卜等，则被视为“凉性”食物。要注意热性或凉性的食物都不能吃太多。而热性及凉性食物摄食的多少，则应视时令、烹饪方式、烹饪调料及个人体质而定。

“温性”与“凉性”食物受到大力推荐。“温性”与 “凉性”食物的选择从简单的海参到美味的燕窝汤不等，视个人经济情况而定。

对西方人或现代医学的医生而言，食补的概念还远未丧失其可信度。比如大约两年前，一家著名的医院就将食补纳入其供餐服务中。

将食补作为养生之道的习俗也影响到了公共饮食业。虽然食补在年轻人中受欢迎的程度正在减退，但在许多餐厅的菜单中都能看到中药，像枸杞被加到水果茶中或是被当作有益的配料使用。这些中药吸引了需要适度提神的顾客，如加班时间过长的上班族等。

因此，不管你是需要大力借助牛鞭来提振男性雄风，还是用猪脑汤来增进你的脑力，你会发现古老的中国食补习俗可能就是你在寻觅的补药。

词汇讲解

【词汇讲解】

1.Cuisine n. 烹饪，佳肴

如：Chinese cuisine is very different from European.
中国烹饪与欧洲烹饪有很大区别。

After that, they might end their day dining in a restaurant that serves Chinese cuisine.
然后他俩可能会去一家中国餐馆吃晚饭，以此来结束一天的活动。

2.tonic 滋补的，振奋精神的

如：The good news acted as a tonic on us all.
那个好消息让我们大家欢欣鼓舞。

Praise can be a fine tonic.
赞美有时真让人感到振奋。

3.stave off 阻挡，延缓

如：The lost explorers ate birds' eggs to stave off starvation.
为了避免饿死，那些迷路的勘探人员吃鸟蛋充饥。

4.parallel vt. 对比，相比，相应，与 ... 平行

如：The painting is without parallel of the greatest artistic level.
这幅图画有无与伦比的艺术价值。

The railway lines run parallel to the road.
铁路线和那条道路平行。

5.delicacy n. 柔软，精致，佳肴

如：He provided local delicacies for his guests' meal.
他用当地的美味佳肴来招待客人。

Everyone admired the delicacy of her features.
人人都羡慕她娇美的容貌。

(可可英语版权所有,未经允许请勿转载)