American Food: From Asparagus to Zucchini

The popular view outside the U.S. that Americans survive on cheeseburgers, Cokes, and French fries is as accurate as the American popular view that the British live on tea and fish 'n' chips, the Germans only on beer, bratwurst, and sauerkraut, and the French on red wine and garlic.

Besides being a cliche, this view also comes from the fact that much of what is advertised abroad as "American food" is a pretty flat, taste­less imitation. American beef, for example, comes from specially grain-fed cattle, not from cows that are raised mainly for milk production. As a result, American beef is more tender and tastes better than what is usually offered as an "American steak" in Europe. When sold abroad, the simple baked potato that comes hot and whole in foil often lacks the most important ele­ment, the famous Idaho potato. This has a differ­ent texture and skin that comes from the climate and soil in Idaho. Or, there's even that old picnic standby, corn-on-the-cob. There's absolutely no comparison with corn that has been canned, kept in water, or frozen stiff and shipped for weeks over thousands of miles.

Even something as basic as barbecue sauces show differences from many of the types found on supermarket shelves overseas. A fine barbecue sauce from the Southside of Chicago has its own fire and soul. The Texans have a competition each year for the hottest barbecue sauce (the recipes are kept secret). And the Hispanic communities in the Southwest know that theirs is the best. Then there are those California wines which are doing quite well in international tasting competitions. Like fine wines everywhere, the best ones never leave home. The oldest bourbons and smoothest "sippin' whiskeys" are also not things you would offer to just anyone.

America has two strong advantages when it comes to food. The first is that as the leading agricultural nation, she has always been well sup­plied with fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables in great variety at relatively low prices. This is one reason why steak or beef roast is probably the most "typical" American food; it has always been more available. But good Southern-fried chicken also has its champions, as do hickory-smoked or sugar-cured hams, turkey (which some people wanted to make the national bird), fresh lobster, and other seafoods such as crabs or clams. In a country with widely different climates and many fruit and vegetable growing regions, such items as fresh grapefruit, oranges, lemons, mel­ons, cherries, peaches, or broccoli, iceberg let­tuce, avocados, and cranberries do not have to be imported. This is one reason why fruit dishes and salads are so common. Family vegetable gardens have been very popular, both as a hobby and as a way to save money, from the days when most Americans were farmers. They also help to keep fresh food on the table. Vegetable gardens are so popular that even The New Yorker always prints a few zucchini cartoons each autumn. One thing that always grows is zucchini, and trying to get the family to eat more of it with everything, or the neighbors to accept just a few more, has become a kind of national joke. In some areas where just about everyone goes fishing now and then, fish replace zucchini ("you caught them, you eat them!"). The first few fresh perch or mountain trout are quite good...

The second advantage America has enjoyed is that immigrants have brought with them, and continue to bring, the traditional foods of their countries and cultures. The variety of foods and styles is simply amazing. Whether Armenian, Basque, Catalonian, Creole, Danish, French,

German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, traditional Jewish, Latvian, Mexican, Vietnamese or what have you, these traditions are now also at home in the United States. A toasted bagel for breakfast (with Philadelphia cream cheese), a crisp taco with fresh lettuce (and a sharp cheese) for lunch, or a serious dinner starting with sweet-and-sour in a Chinatown restaurant have also become "typi­cally" American.

There seem to be four trends in America at present which are connected with foods and din­ing. First, there has been a notable increase in the number of reasonably priced restaurants which offer specialty foods. These include those that specialize in many varieties and types of pan-cakes, those that offer only fresh, baked breakfast foods, and the many that are buffets or salad bars. Secondly, growing numbers of Americans are more regularly going out to eat in restaurants. One reason is that they are not too expensive. Another reason, probably more important, is that many American women today do not feel that their lives are best spent in the kitchen. They would rather pay a professional chef and also enjoy a good meal. At the same time, there is an increase in fine cooking as a hobby for both men and women. For some two decades now, there have been popular television series on all types and styles of cooking, and the increasing popu­larity can easily be seen in the number of best-selling specialty cookbooks and the numbers of stores that specialize in often exotic cooking de­vices and spices.

A third trend is that as a result of nationwide health campaigns, Americans in general are eating a much lighter diet. Cereals and grain foods, fruits and vegetables, fish and salads are empha­sized instead of heavy and sweet foods. More than one American, of course, will refuse to give up that "solid" meal of meat, potatoes, and gravy. Yet the strong health and fitness movement in the U.S. shows no signs of being a temporary trend. Finally, there is that international trend to "fast food" chains which sell pizza, hamburgers, Mexi­can foods, chicken, salads and sandwiches, seafoods, and various ice creams. While many Americans and many other people resent this trend and while, as may be expected, restaurants also dislike it, many young, middle-aged, and old continue to buy and go eat fast foods. Perhaps it's all taken a bit too seriously? After all, while most Americans would still judge France to be the home of fine cuisine, Paris is also the home of the world's busiest Burger Chef restaurant.

 

EXERCISES:

I TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH::

Обращаться к традициям и предпочтениям жителей других стран; ассоциироваться с тем, что называется «дух Америки»; перенимать чью-либо культуру; быть объявленным вне закона; различать оригинал и приближенную к нему имитацию; предлагать изысканную кухню; национальная оздоровительная компания; чувствовать себя в неудобном положении; взаимодействие интеллектуальной и стилистической составляющих языка; проявлять обеспокоенность по поводу иностранного воздействия на культуру; доморощенные аналоги американской культуры; опубликовать результаты национального опроса населения; признавать культурные связи; культурная зрелость; центр передовой школы современного танца и балета; благодарить общество за поддержку и сотрудничество; социально-релевантная традиция в кино; иметь значительный престиж; получать награды и международное признание.

II GIVE RISSIAN EQUIVALENTS OF THE FOLLOWING EXPRESSIONS:

To have some historical validity; to import one’s art or artist; to find favor and fame in Europe;

a cultural break with; a threat to the idea of democracy; to be honored for intellectual brilliance; elitist or aristocratic position; to see one’s culture in a favorable light; a widespread belief; to be marked by tension; to develop one’s own cultural style; a tremendous surge of creativity in all areas; vitality and artistic experimentation; to be much the thing of the past; to acknowledge the preeminence; to be replaced by the corrupt artistic vitality; private and voluntary funding; to admit cultural ties and borrowings; to be expected and welcomed; to take for granted; to make much sense; not to be state-supported; to be the patron of; to make us more civilized.

III USE THE NECESSARY EXPRESSIONS FROM THE LIST ABOVE IN THE PROPER FORM TO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SENTENSES:

 

1 As American influence, wealth and power expanded into the 20^th century, the debate about the originality of American civilization began……… .

2 There are many people on the other side of Atlantic who though complain of home-grown imitations of American culture still have to…….. .

3 Americans are for the most part unconcerned about the debates that take place beyond their shores and continue to……. .

4 Americans point out with pride the advantages of having so many and such varied cultural traditions and they have become more willing ……… .

5 New York’s art offerings are so numerous and varied that the authors of guidebooks…..don’t think it……. to list only few of them and often give up and list numbers.

6 Theater in America is especially healthy in the hundreds of regional and university groups around the country because…… .

7 European art and culture were described as being decadent, degenerate and debased and were seen as……. .

8 A particular American gift to modern music, the creation of standards, songs that just about everyone and everywhere knows and sings made Americans praised and honored all over the world and a lot of them……. .

9 The theater in the US is…….. , and people who like rhythm and blues are not very much impressed to see that their tax money should be used to support the interests of those who prefer classical music and think that opera ……. .

10 New Yorkers don’t seem too concerned about what the rest of us anywhere else think and …………. that their city is the financial, business, as s well as news and communications center of the world.

IV MATCH THE WORDS IN A WITH THE NOUNS PHRASES IN B TO MAKE EXPRESSIONS:

A                                B

1 to provide                       A ” major” or worldclass

2 to give                            B graffity

3 to be associated with     C favorite cultural activity

4 tasteless                          D highly paid international stars

5 high-priced subway        E level of competition

6 to support                       F cultural offerings

7 to attract                         G immitation

8 to depend on                  H the wrong impression

9 to be claimed as             I modern architecture

10 to increase                    J government backing and money

 

V SAY WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE STATEMENTS:

1 Americans survive on cheeseburgers, Cokes, and French fries.

2 Many American women today feel that their lives are best spent in the kitchen.

3 Regardless of why it spreads, American popu­lar culture is not usually quite rapidly adopted and adapted in many other countries.

4 American in origin, informal clothing has become the world's first truly universal style.

5 The theater in the United States survives because is financed by government.

6 T-shirts, sweatshirts, and jogging clothes, the light wind-breaker, "letter jackets" and tennis shoes, denim or "Levi" jackets, shirts, and plain old blue jeans had never been popular outside America.

7 Growing numbers of Americans would prefer to eat at home to enjoy a good and healthy meal rather than to go out to eat in restaurants.

8 What irri­tates so many people about New Yorkers is that they know where they live and who they are.

 9 Americans are not inclined to admit to their cultural ties and borrowings. They are strongly concerned about what can be labeled "foreign" or "made in America," what is im­ported and exported.

10 The community open-air concert which is free for all also has a long tradition in America

 VI QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

1 What are three main stages of the American cultural history?

2 What was the first stage of cultural development marked by?

3 Why did Americans want a cultural break with Europe?

4 What was the European argument in respond to America’s attacks blaming Europe as being too aristocratic.

5 Why was the idea that art and culture were not the property of a privileged few revolutionary?

6 Was the advancing of American culture difficult during the second stage?

7 What was one of the most significant themes in American literature of this period?

8 How can the third and present stage of American cultural history be described?

9 Why is New York sometimes irritating for people in the rest of America?

10 What are the numerous New York City’s offerings?

11 Why is it difficult for the authors of guidebooks to make up lists of cultural offerings of New York?

12 What important artistic movements have originated from New York?

13 What is New York associated with?

14 What status does theater have in New York?

15 Is American theater publicly or privately financed?

16 Why is there a strong belief in America that government should not interfere with arts?

17 What are advantages and disadvantages of private financing?

18 Why can not Metropolitan opera Association compete internationally with many government- supported opera houses?

19 What does the fame of American modern dance come from?

20 How does the love for classical music express itself in the USA?

21 How are nationwide music competitions supported?

22 Do open air concerts attract many visitors?

23 What is film making industry in America associated with?

24 What do most national television systems across the globe have in common?

25 Do you feel the preeminence of American films on our TV?

26 Why do you think American films have gained such a great popularity all over the world?

27 What arguments can you give that American pop culture won’ stay American?

28 What are the reasons of such rapid adoption of everything “made in the USA”?

29 What are two social trends where the continuing process of adoption most clearly seen?

30 What clearly American clothes are spread far beyond the boundaries of the country?

31 How did the situation with jazz, swing, rock’ roll, country and western music change over the last decades?

31 What are the stereotypes about American food?

32 Why does American food have nothing to do with it’s tasteless imitation abroad?

33 What are two strong American advantages when it comes to food?

34 What are four trends in America at present connected with food and dining?

 

VII COMMENT ON THE FOLLOWING:

1 The pervasiveness of Coca-Cola and American pop music are just two indications of how small the world has become.

2 Few of Americans would take the risk to state that he or she has noting to do with typical features of the national pop culture. Passion for automobiles and perfect road network, mass culture with it’s Hollywood, country music, blues, juzz, rock and rap, general craze for basketball and baseball, hockey and golf, beer and coca-cola, indispensable barbecue at weekends and fastfood every day, intricate ” ethnic” blocks with their specific lifestyles and fashionable luxurious districts all this is so common for everyone living in America.

3 It must be born in mind that due to a complex multinational structure of society it’s quite common that even within a block there may be distinctive ethnic mini communities who don’t just honor with palpitation the traditions of their ancestors but very often cultivate them strenuously.

4 The most striking feature for a foreign tourist is however a tremendous general tolerance of the locals, distinct respect for family and historic values, for civil rights and liberties, non-finite

thirst for the new and, besides a surprising confidence of the people living in the USA that it is their nation which has the best and the most advanced traits combined with never ending fight for their right s and freedoms and for the preservation of traditional values.

                                                                                        

 VIII TRANSLATE INTO ENGLISH :

1 Американская музыкальная индустрия является наиболее сильной в мире. Афро-американские музыкальные веяния, включая блюз, джаз и хип-хоп давно уже распространились по всему свету. 2 Рэп, внутренний голос городов Америки, с тяжелым ритмом и серьезным смысловым подтекстом, ориентированный на белых людей среднего класса, будет еще ни одно десятилетие смущать американских социологов. 3 Исключительное содержание американской культуры сильнее всего проявляется в кино- и телеиндустрии. В основном люди из других стран составляют мнение об Америке после просмотра ее телевизионных передач и художественных фильмов. 4 Когда мы думаем об американских городах, мы в первую очередь представляем себе небоскребы – символы американского оптимизма. Чикаго – типичный представитель технократического развития, впрочем также как и Нью-Йорк. Но несмотря на это, в сельских районах Америки сохраняется своеобразие архитектурных стилей, таких как: обшитые досками дома в Новой Англии; глинобитные постройки в Нью-Мексико. 5 Из-за размеров страны и многонациональной "эмигрантской среды" США здесь вряд ли удастся выделить какую-то единую модель или стиль поведения - несмотря на усиленную пропаганду "общечеловеческих ценностей", универсальной американской культуры не существует. Однако есть целый набор стереотипов, как навязанных политическими структурами, так и естественных, которые характерны для всего американского общества в целом.

 

LIFESTYLES

 MIND THE PRONUNCIATION OF THE FOLLOWING DIFFICULT WORDS:

 

accurate     [#@kj{rit]              верный, правильный, точный

resent         [ri#zEnt]                негодовать, возмущаться; оби                                                  жаться

homogeneous [,h{um{#dZi:ni{s] однородный

stem           [stEm] (stem from) происходить от (чего-л.) ;                                                         являться ...

barbecue    [#ba:bi,kju:]           барбекю (пикник с традицион                                                 ным блюдом из мяса, зажарен                                              ного на решётке над углями)

courteous   [ #k{:ti{s]              вежливый, обходительный, уч                                                тивый, любезный

dreary        [#dri{ri ]                грустный, печальный;                                                              унылый 2) тоскливый, безот                                               радный; скучный, неинтерес                                               ный, нудный

diversion    [ da#v{:S{n]          отклонение, отступление

brutal         [ #bru:t{l]              бесчеловечный, жестокий, звер                                               ский

hospitality  [ ,hOspi#t@liti]                 гостеприимность, госте                                                       приимство, радушие, хлебо                                                                 сольство

weary         [#wi{ri]                             усталый, изнурённый,                                                          утомлённый

superficial  [,su:p{#fiS{l]         поверхностный; внешний;

                                                      наносный;

assumption [{#s[mpS{n]          допущение; предположе                                                           ние

connotation [ ,k{n{#tieS{n]                 подтекст, скрытый                                                                смысл; то, что подразу                                                              мевается

encounter   [in#kaunt{]            случайная встреча

blurred        [ bl{:d]                              нерезкий, расплывчатый,                                                    смазанный

hereditary  [hi#redit{ri]           наследственный, потом                                                            ственный; переходящий                                                         из поколения в поколение

constrained [k{n#streind]         вынужденный, принуж                                                            дённый

phoney       [#f{uni]                             ложный, поддельный;                                                          фальшивый; дутый

intricate      [#intrikit]                           запутанный, сложный,                                                         замысловатый; затрудни                                                           тельный

quip            [kwip]                                саркастическое замеча                                                          ние; колкость; насмешка:

ample         [#@mp{l]                          богатый, изобильный,                                                          обильный

pun             [p[n]                                  игра слов; каламбур

verbal witticisms[#v{:b{l #witi,siz{m]                словесная острота; шутка

tenderfoot [ #tend{,fut]                      новоприбывший, нови                                                         чок; неопытный человек

to disguise [ dis#gaiz]                         искажать; представлять в лож                                                         ном свете

weird         [wi{d]                               странный, непонятный;                                                      причудливый, фантасти                                                           ческий

mole           [m{ul]                                крот

patio           [#p@ti,{u]                         внутренний дворик ,

                                                                  терраса

garbage      [#ga:bidZ]                         мусор, бытовые отходы,                                                      мусорный

menial        [#mi:ni{l]                           холопский; низкий;

                                                                  лакейский

 

READ THE TEXT:

Typically American?

Few of us like to be told that we're average, and Americans are no exception. Far worse, however, is to be told that we, or the things we do, are typical of our nation. "Oh, that's so typically American (or British, or French, etc.)." is the kind of statement most of us object to. Generalizations about nationalities (Americans are incurable op­timists, Germans are professional pessimists, and Italians are amused by both) are usually not wel­comed, even when they're basically accurate.

With Americans, this reaction may even go deeper. One generalization often made about Americans is that they value their individualism quite highly. They place great emphasis on their individual differences, on having a great number of choices, and on doing things their own way. This is perhaps why general statements about American lifestyles are frequently resented by .Americans. Part of being an American is not being, and not wanting to be, typical.

There are other difficulties with summarizing American ways of life and attitudes. Whereas, for example. Italians or Germans form a largely ho­mogeneous society, white, Christian, and speak­ing one language, Americans do not. And whereas a country like Britain exhibits consider­able variation in climate and landscape, the dif­ferences across the continental U.S. are extreme.

Such difficulties, which stem from the enor­mous variety of America and Americans, should be rather obvious. Less apparent at first thought is that much of what was once said to be typically American is often no longer just American. Largely since the Second World War, more and more American social and cultural habits have taken hold in Europe, from cornflakes and the televised news for breakfast to the evening bar­becue or grill party.

In the early 1960s, for instance, it was still possible for an American to quip that "in the U.S., we take a shower every day and go food shopping once a week - in Europe, they do it the other way around." Today, of course, this is no longer the case. American habits have not changed that much, but European ones have, along with the increase in supermarkets and shopping centers, the number of cars, and the modernization of housing. So-called convenience and frozen foods are now as popular in Europe as they are in America. Similarly, to talk about a car culture, a throw-away culture, or the generation gap as ex­clusively American concerns makes little sense today. Such concerns are now as familiar to most Europeans as are, well, traffic jams and beer cans, pollution control or "walkman" radios.

For their part Americans are now buying smal­ler cars, and walking more. More and more of them are cooking "from scratch" instead of using prepared foods. And. certainly, Italian fashions and French wines (as well as French fashions and 60 Italian wines). German cars, and Dutch cheese are selling well in the U.S. Yet overall, trends in lifestyles have moved and still move across the Atlantic from west to east. Another generaliza­tion, this one European, says it well: "What they're doing in California today we'll probably be trying in Europe tomorrow."

As a result, there are at least two generaliza­tions that can be safely made. First, Americans tend to be trend-setters in lifestyles. And, sec­ondly, what is thought to be typically American today probably won't be so for long. Most interesting therefore, are those habits and attitudes, customs and conventions which have been consistently observed among Americans over time.

 

A Friend in Need

A report consistently brought back by visitors to the U.S. is how friendly, courteous, and helpful most Americans were to them. To be fair, this observation is also frequently made of Canada and Canadians, and should best be considered North American. There are. of course, excep­tions. Small-minded officials, rude waiters, and ill-mannered taxicab drivers are hardly unknown in the U.S. Yet it is an observation made so frequently that it deserves comment.

For a long period of time and in many parts of the country, a traveler was a welcome break in an otherwise dreary existence. "Bleak" is the word often used to describe frontier life. Monotony and loneliness were common problems of the families who generally lived distant from one another. Strangers and travelers were "welcome sources of diversion, and brought news of the outside world.

The brutal realities of the frontier also shaped this tradition of hospitality. Someone traveling alone, if hungry, injured, or ill, often had nowhere to turn except to the nearest cabin or settlement. It was not a matter of choice for the traveler or merely a charitable impulse on the part of the settlers. It reflected the harshness of daily life: if you didn't take in the stranger and take care of him there was no one else who would. And someday, remember, you might be in the same situation.

Today there are many charitable organizations which specialize in helping the weary traveler.

Yet, the old tradition of hospitality to strangers is still very strong in the U.S., especially in the smaller cities and towns away from the busy tourist trails. "I was just traveling through, got talking with this American, and pretty soon he's invited me home for dinner - amazing." Such observations reported by visitors to the: U.S. are not uncommon, but are not always understood properly. The casual friendliness of many Americans should be interpreted neither as superficial nor as artificial, but as the result of a historically developed cultural tradition.

As is true of any developed society, in America a complex set of cultural signals, assumptions,

and conventions underlies all social interrelation­ships. And, of course, speaking a language does not necessarily mean that someone understands social and cultural patterns. Visitors who fail to "translate" cultural meanings properly often draw wrong conclusions. For example, when an American uses the word "friend," the cultural connotations of the word may be quite different from those it has in the visitor's language and culture. It takes more than a brief encounter on a bus to distinguish between courteous convention and individual interest. Yet, being friendly is a virtue that many Americans value highly and expect from both neighbors and strangers.

Similarly, Americans are also taught to be polite when, as travelers or guests, they are asked that standard question: "How do you like it here?" As children, many were taught that in such situations, "if you can't find something nice to say then don't say anything at all." Other cultures

have other norms of politeness ("we try to be honest"). Yet when these other norms are applied in America, Americans naturally interpret them through their own ("how rude!"). They are taken as a sign of bad manners.

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