美国文化生活三日谈（二）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。EatingCustomandPractice用餐习惯Americaneatingisfunny.Theyeatalmosteverythingwithafork,anditappearsthatholdingaknifeinone‘srighthandlongerthanafewsecondsisconsideredtobeagainstgoodtablemanners.Thesystemisthatifitisabsolutelynecessarytouseaknife,peopletaketheforkintheirlefthand,andcutoffapieceofmeatorwhateveritisinthenormalmanner.Thentheyputtheknifedown,transfertheforktotheirrighthand,andonlythendotheytransportthefoodtotheirmouth.Thisisclearlyludicrous(滑稽可笑),butitisconsideredgoodmanners.Thereareseveralresultsofthissystem.First,ifitisnotabsolutelynecessarytouseaknife,Americansdon‘tuseone,becauseobviouslythisgreatlycomplicates(使复杂化)things,andyouwillthereforeseethemtryingtocutthingslikepotatoes,fishandevenbacon(熏猪肉)withafork.Second,towardstheendofacourse,sinceonlyoneimplement(器具)isbeingused,foodhastobochasedaroundtheplatewiththefork—andforthelastmouthfulthethumbhastobeusedtokeepthefoodinplace,althoughoneisnotsupposedtodothis.Third,tablesaregenerallylaidwithoneknifeandtwoforks,theoutsideforkbeingforthesalad.ThereisnoneedforforeignvisitorstofollowtheAmericansystemandtrytoeatthesaladwithonlyafork,butifyoudouseyourknife,remerbertosaveitforthemeatcourse.Evendesserts(甜食)(excepticecream)areeatenwithaforkifatallpossible,andthespoonyouseebyyourdessertismeanttobeforcoffee(butifyouuseitforyourdessertnoonewillsayanything).SomeBreakfastDishes早餐食谱Breakfastinarestaurantisaveryenjoyableexperience.Ifyouordereggsinarestaurant,thewaiter/waitresswillaskyouhowyouwantthem.Youcanreplythatyouwantthem'scrambled(炒)'or'boiled'.Itisnotsufficient,however,toaskforthem'fried';youwillhavetospecifywhetheryouwouldpreferthem'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).Americansausage(香肠)comesinslicesandisquitespicy.Butyoucanalsohavelinksausage.Americanbaconcomesinsmallstrips,canberatherfat,andisservedcrispy.Itisusuallyverytasty,andyoucaneatitwithyourfingers.'Hashbrows'(油炸土豆片)areshredded(切成碎片的)andfriedpotatoes.Theyarewonderful,especiallywithfriedeggsandketchup(蕃茄酱).'Pancakes',sometimescalled'hotcakes',aremadewithbakingpower.Theyarenormallyservedinapile,andyouaresupposedtoputbutterandsyrup(果浆)onthem.'Jelly'(果子冻)isjamandincludesgrapejelly,whichisverytasty.Toastisoftenservedalreadybuttered.'Englishmuffins(松饼)'arelikesmallcrumpets(烤饼)withouttheholesandareservedtoasted.Youputjamonthem.A'biscuit'(软饼)isasnall,scone-likebreadroll,oftenservedhot.Orangejuiceandcoffeeareoftensercedwithbreakfast.
