2006年VOA标准英语-Indonesian Cuisine Popular in U.S.

By Amy Katz
Washington, DC
01 March 2006
 
watch Indonesian Cuisine¹ report
 

Indonesian Restaurant  
  
Indonesian food is catching² on in the United States -- especially in big cities like New York, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. -- where there are large Indonesian communities. As Amy Katz reports in this story, which was produced by VOA's Indonesian Service, the restaurants are a haven³ for homesick Indonesians but they are hoping to become popular with Americans. 

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Toto Sugito 
  

Toto Sugito is from Subang, West Java, and now lives in Los Angeles, and he says he misses Indonesian food.

He, and many of his fellow expatriates, flock to Indonesian restaurants in the U.S. to eat authentic⁴ food from their homeland.  And those who can cook the region's specialties⁵ are opening stalls, cafes and restaurants to satisfy the demand.  

Karnoto  
  
Karnoto {note: like many Javanese, Karnoto only has one name} just set up his own stall in his home just outside Washington, DC. "I did this because all of my friends urged me to do this. A lot of them miss their traditional food."

From these home businesses some branch out into full-fledged restaurants.  Upi Zahar's Upi Jaya restaurant in New York had humble⁶ beginnings -- in her home.

"It was no longer possible to work from home… but people kept on coming for the food. They wanted to eat in a more relaxed atmosphere with more room. So, that's why I set up this restaurant."

Opening a restaurant in America is not easy to do.  Permits and licenses⁷ need to be obtained. And the rules vary from state to state.

If something does not meet local requirements, the restaurant could face closure or lose its business permit. 

Some Indonesian restaurateurs have hired lawyers to navigate⁸ the system for them.  Others have found the process is easy enough to navigate themselves.  

Dewi Tirtowidjojo   
  
Dewi Tirtowidjojo, who owns a restaurant in Los Angeles, California, says her restaurant not only gives people a taste of home, but also the opportunity to meet fellow Indonesian expatriates.

"I think the only way to bring Indonesians together, is by food. There's no better way to do that."

Some also see their restaurants as a way to promote Indonesian food -- in America.  Currently other Asian cuisines⁹, which have been available for much longer, are much more popular.  Some restaurateurs say the Indonesian government should be doing more to help them gain access to the American market.

Riaz Saehu  
  
Riaz Saehu, a spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Washington, DC insists the government is involved in promoting Indonesian food.

"It's the policy of the Embassy to support these businesses. And we do support them.  We have to have an understanding first of what this support means.  For most people they think of support only in financial terms, but we don't provide that."

What the embassy and the restaurateurs hope is that Indonesian food will grow beyond its current status as comfort food for homesick Indonesians and will become part of the American mainstream¹⁰ -- like Chinese and other Asian cuisines already have.
 
 

1 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。

2 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

3 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

4 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

5 specialties   

n.专门，特性，特别；专业( specialty的名词复数 )；特性；特制品；盖印的契约

参考例句：

• Great Books are popular, not pedantic. They are not written by specialists about specialties for specialists. 名著绝不引经据典，艰深难懂，而是通俗易读。它们不是专家为专业人员撰写的专业书籍。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Brain drains may represent a substantial reduction in some labor force skills and specialties. 智力外流可能表示某种劳动力技能和特长大量减少。 来自辞典例句

6 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

7 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

8 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

9 cuisines   

n.烹饪( cuisine的名词复数 )；菜肴；（通常指昂贵的饭店中的）饭菜；烹饪艺术

参考例句：

• Could you tell me the different features of these cuisines? 能不能告诉我这些不同的烹调流派各自有哪些特点？ 来自地道口语脱口SHOW 高中超越版
• Ice sculptures are used as decorations in some cuisines, especially in Asia. 冰雕在某些菜肴中被当作装饰品，尤其在亚洲。 来自互联网

10 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。