VOA常速英语2007年-Chefs Stage Benefit Dinners Honoring American C

By George Dwyer
Washington
09 November 2007
 

A series of "All Star Chef" benefit dinners is being held across the United States this year, all part of a 20-city celebration honoring the 20th anniversary of the James Beard Foundation. The foundation is named after the renowned¹ American chef who died in 1985 and is considered by many to be the father of American gastronomy². One of these benefit dinners was held recently at a Washington, D.C. restaurant, and VOA's George Dwyer was there.

It is the culinary equivalent of a major theatrical³ production just before the actors hit the stage.

"And we are garnishing⁴ tonight with a fig⁵ jam and a pistachio butter - this is pistachio and laudemio, a really good extra virgin⁶ olive oil (with) a little bit of sea salt. And then a roasted fig on top," says Chef Ris LaCoste, who is working with four of America's finest chefs - ably assisted by an expert kitchen staff - to put the finishing touches on a masterpiece of a meal.

Restaurant owner Janet Cam says the event has been organized to celebrate the life's work of the legendary⁷ American chef James Beard. "James Beard is perhaps the first person to be noted⁸ as focused on food in America…and he really provided I think a guide for Americans in cooking and realizing what good food is," she said.

James Beard showed Americans that it is not difficult to eat well, says wine importer Terry Theise. "We Americans tend to feel that this exists in some lofty aesthetic⁹ realm to which we do not have access, because we are just plain folk, but we can eat beautifully and well and simply. All we have to do is care about it and pay a certain kind of attention."

Chef Beard's love of food and its social influence led to the creation of a foundation in his name. The James Beard Foundation promotes the culinary arts through awards programs, scholarships, and "Taste America" events, where Chefs like Bob Kincaid prepare American cuisine¹⁰.

"It is kind of a mixture of a lot of different cuisines - like the people that are in America, taken from French, German, Italian, and then adding into that local products and things that are grown here and produced here," says Kincaid.

Washington, D.C.'s Vidalia Restaurant played host on this night. And the fact that the event was being held in this city is a sign of changing times, say the experts here.

"Specifically in Washington, I think this event is important because for a long time Washington has been struggling to establish itself as a major-league restaurant city. And for a very long time it was not considered to be one. And I think those days are drawing to a close," says Terry Theise, wine importer.

Yes, and just in time for dessert.

1 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

2 gastronomy   

n.美食法；美食学

参考例句：

• He studied gastronomy but cannot make a living as a cook.他学习了烹饪但却无法靠厨艺过活。
• Burgundy has always been considered a major centre of gastronomy.勃艮第大区一向被视为重要的美食中心。

3 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

4 garnishing   

v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• She had finished the vegetables and was garnishing the roast. 她已经做好了蔬菜，正在给烤肉添加饰菜。 来自辞典例句
• Finely chop the reserved dill andthe rest for garnishing. 将保留下来的刁草叶剁碎，以备装饰。 来自互联网

5 fig   

n.无花果(树)

参考例句：

• The doctor finished the fig he had been eating and selected another.这位医生吃完了嘴里的无花果，又挑了一个。
• You can't find a person who doesn't know fig in the United States.你找不到任何一个在美国的人不知道无花果的。

6 virgin   

n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的

参考例句：

• Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
• There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。

7 legendary   

adj.传奇（中）的，闻名遐迩的；n.传奇（文学）

参考例句：

• Legendary stories are passed down from parents to children.传奇故事是由父母传给孩子们的。
• Odysseus was a legendary Greek hero.奥狄修斯是传说中的希腊英雄。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 aesthetic   

adj.美学的，审美的，有美感

参考例句：

• My aesthetic standards are quite different from his.我的审美标准与他的大不相同。
• The professor advanced a new aesthetic theory.那位教授提出了新的美学理论。

10 cuisine   

n.烹调，烹饪法

参考例句：

• This book is the definitive guide to world cuisine.这本书是世界美食的权威指南。
• This restaurant is renowned for its cuisine.这家餐馆以其精美的饭菜而闻名。