彭蒙惠英语：Seoul’s Brunch Bunch

Seoul’s Brunch¹ Bunch

 

By Norman Sklarewitz

 

Enjoy the ultimate all-American dining experience at top hotels in Seoul, South Korea.

 

1

In the view of many, the major American contribution to dining out is the fast food restaurant. Those familiar outlets² dispensing³ over-the-counter or drive-by fare—such as hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza—are a fixture⁴ not only on the U.S. landscape but also all over the globe.

 

Yet a more elegant American tradition established years ago in fine hotels has also taken hold. It’s the Sunday brunch, described by one critic as “the ultimate all-American dining ritual.”

 

The term “brunch” was coined by combining the words “breakfast” and “lunch.” Brunch was first introduced as a meal that hotels began serving buffet⁵ style from late morning through the early afternoon. Convenient hours and expansive fare accommodated diners such as families coming in after church, golfers after completing an early morning round or locals meeting friends for a substantial meal.

 

Setting into Seoul

One hotel’s general manager considers his lavish⁶ brunch to be “an unforgettable gastronomic⁷ celebration, an event in and of itself. It’s not just a meal; it’s an adventure.” And it’s one that has hit Seoul, South Korea.

 

About 10 years ago, brunch was introduced at one or two luxury hotels in Seoul, where it quickly found responsive patrons. Before long, other places introduced the Sunday brunch to their dining rooms. As a result, today, American-style Sunday brunch can be enjoyed at almost every top Seoul hotel.

 

Most of the basic elements that originated in the United States have been carried over to Seoul. For one thing, the brunch is served buffet style with guests invited to partake of the wide range of dishes arrayed on long tables and at specialty⁸ “stations.” Those with hearty⁹ appetites appreciate the freedom to go back for “seconds” or even “thirds” under the “all you can eat” policy.

 

Vocabulary Focus

fare (n) [fZE] the type of food that is served

fixture (n) [5fikstFE] something that has been in a place for a long time

take hold (idiom) to become established

in and of itself (idiom) independent, not relying on other things

 

Specialized¹⁰ Terms

buffet (adj) 自助餐的 relating to a meal where people serve themselves from a variety of types of food

gastronomic (adj) 美食的 relating to the art and knowledge involved in preparing or eating good food

partake (v) 吃喝，享用 to eat or drink

 

首尔（原汉城）的早午餐风潮

 

在韩国首尔顶级饭店中，享受极致全美式用餐经验

 

吴四明 译

 

1

很多人认为，美国对外食文化最大的贡献就是快餐餐厅。那些以到柜台点餐或车上点餐的方式，供应汉堡、热狗及比萨等食物的大家熟知的餐厅，不仅见于美国本土，已风靡全球。

不过，多年前出现于精致饭店内，另一种较优雅的美式传统也开始蔚为风气，那就是被一位评论家形容为“极致全美式用餐仪式”的周日早午餐。

“早午餐”这个名词是结合“早餐”与“午餐”两个词得来的。最初是指饭店在近午时分至午后所供应的自助式餐点。方便的时间及丰富的菜系，适合刚作完礼拜的家庭、已打完一场早场高尔夫球的人，或是想与朋友聚会并享用丰盛佳肴的当地人。

 

融入首尔

某位饭店总经理认为，他的饭店所提供的这顿丰盛的早午餐，是“一个令人难忘的美食庆典，其本身就是一出重头戏。它不只是一顿饭，还是一次探险之旅。”而这正是席卷了韩国首尔的那股风潮。

大约10年前，首尔有一两家豪华饭店率先推出早午餐，它很快就受到一批顾客的欢迎。不久之后，其它地方的餐厅也纷纷推出周日早午餐。时至今日，首尔几乎每一个顶级饭店里，都可以享受到美式周日早午餐。

源自于美国的基本要素，绝大多数都被首尔保留。例如，早午餐是以自助餐的形式供应，客人可以取用陈列在长桌上及专门“餐台”中的各式餐点。胃口很好的客人都很欣赏那种在“吃到饱”的原则下，可以回头再战“第二回合”，甚至“第三回合”的自由。

 

 

1 brunch   

n.早午餐

参考例句：

• They eat much the same thing for brunch every day.每天早午餐他们总是吃同样的东西。
• What did you have for your brunch?你早午饭都吃些什么？

2 outlets   

n.出口( outlet的名词复数 )；经销店；插座；廉价经销店

参考例句：

• The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 dispensing   

v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药）

参考例句：

• A dispensing optician supplies glasses, but doesn't test your eyes. 配镜师为你提供眼镜，但不检查眼睛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The firm has been dispensing ointments. 本公司配制药膏。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？

6 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

7 gastronomic   

adj.美食（烹饪）法的，烹任学的

参考例句：

• The gastronomic restaurant is a feature of the hotel. 美食餐厅是这家饭店的一个特色。 来自互联网
• The restaurant offers a special gastronomic menu. 这家餐馆备有一份特别的美食菜单。 来自互联网

8 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

9 hearty   

adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的

参考例句：

• After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了，他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
• We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。

10 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。