2007年VOA标准英语-Diner Captures Taste of America

By Liu Enming
Rockford, Michigan
17 April 2007

Many believe that diners are as much a piece of American tradition as baseball and hot dogs. These roadside restaurants once dotted the landscape across the U.S.  While few remain today, one of the most famous is still thriving in Rockford, in the midwestern state of Michigan. Rosie's Diner became famous years ago when it was featured in a series of TV commercials. Since then it has seen good times and bad and even moved, but its owner's are determined¹ to return the restaurant to its original glory. For Producer Liu Enming, VOA's Elaine Lu has the story.

Randy and Jonelle Roest share a fascination² with the culture of classic Americana. They have also always wanted to own their own restaurant. In January 2006 their dream came true with the purchase of Rosie's Diner.

"Rosie's Diner is probably one of the most famous diners in the world,” says Randy. “What made it so famous is in the 1970s an actress named Nancy Walker.  She was the main character in a commercial series made for Bounty³ paper towels.  And her name was Rosie and that was all filmed in this diner."

Rosie's Diner opened in 1946 as the Silver Dollar Diner in the eastern state of New Jersey⁴, becoming a fixture⁵ on the east coast. It rose to national attention when the Bounty ads were shot there, prompting the owner to change the name to Rosie's Diner.  In 1991, a new owner moved the famous restaurant to its current home in Michigan. When the Roests bought the diner 15 years later it needed some work.

"Our number one goal was to bring Rosie's back to the way it was in its glory days.  It had been run down. The food was sub par," admitted Randy.

In addition to renovating⁶ the diner, the Roests set out to recapture the diner's original flavor with an improved menu. Kristopher Ramsey is one of Rosie's cooks.

"We make our own style of chili,” he says. “We make our own style of burritos.  We have a soup called cheeseburger soup.  We made that from scratch and everything.  Some of them we get on the Internet and get recipes for."

Jonelle Roest

Jonelle Roest even added a secret family recipe to the menu. “The one thing that I've brought in that's really popular is -- my grandmother used to make an old beef egg noodle recipe.  It's slow roasted beef.  It's got gravy⁷ with it, and noodles.  It's kind of old comfort food I grew up on."

Dressed in pink, Rosie's waitresses whirl⁸ among the tables serving customers.  Among them is Ashley Grutter.  "We have got a lot of tourists. People come in from out of state, coming just because they have seen the diner on TV like in the ‘70s, and things like that,” says Ashley. “Old people come in here to relive their childhood and young people come in to experience what the older generation was able to experience back in the ‘60s and ‘70s."

1 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

2 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

3 bounty   

n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与

参考例句：

• He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。
• We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。

4 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

5 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

6 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

7 gravy   

n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快

参考例句：

• You have spilled gravy on the tablecloth.你把肉汁泼到台布上了。
• The meat was swimming in gravy.肉泡在浓汁之中。

8 whirl   

v.使...旋转，急转，回旋，迅速移动；n.回旋，旋转，繁忙，混乱，尝试

参考例句：

• The dancer suddenly made a whirl.那位舞蹈演员突然做了一个旋转动作。
• My thoughts were in a whirl.我的思想一片混乱。