文化点:西式餐宴该如何进行

    Episode 4

　　[At an upscale restaurant “Paris Orchid,” which features “French-Asian” fusion cuisine. TJ Liu is hosting a formal dinner for VIP guest Bob Randall. Also invited is the famous feng shui consultant, Hong Kong native C.C. Yip.]

　　Bob: T.J., this restaurant has an amazingly eclectic menu. I’m having a hard time deciding what to order.

　　T.J.: I think you’ll enjoy the food. The chef is French, but he’s lived in Asia for years.

　　Cindy: It’s not easy to book a table here. Fortunately, we have connections. This is your last night in Shanghai.

　　T.J.: And we wanted to introduce you and C.C. Yip to each other. C.C. is one of the top feng shui masters working in interior design.

　　Bob: Mr. Yip, it’s really a pleasure to meet you. T.J. and Cindy have told me about you. They’ve been trying to educate me about the ways of feng shui, but…

　　C.C.: Nice to meet you, Bob. Are you planning to visit Hong Kong any time soon? Maybe put a Diamondback Grille there?

　　Bob: It’s not out of the question.

　　Waiter: [to T.J.] Sir, would you care to order wine this evening?

　　T.J.: [to the others] What do you think, Bob—would you prefer a white or a red? Maybe you could suggest a light white, say a wine from Alsace…

　　Bob: Well, how about either a Pinot blanc or a Riesling? Either would go nicely with the tuna steak.

　　T.J.: [raising his glass, after the food has been served and the wine poured] I’d like to propose a toast to Bob and the entire management team of Diamondback Grille in New York. It’s been a great week, and we’ve worked hard. May this be the first of many dinners we share together in a long and successful partnership! Cheers!

　　Bob, Cindy, C.C.: Cheers!

　　Cindy: Bob, we have been consulting with C.C. to make sure the locations of the Diamondback kitchen and stoves are OK. The energy flow is important for the business, you know?

　　Bob: Energy flow? I guess I’m not familiar with that term.

　　C.C.: Chi. If you know how to place the things—including kitchens—you can cause predictable outcomes.

　　Bob.: So, Mr. Yip, you think our layout at the Shanghai Diamondback Grille has good chi?

　　C.C.: Absolutely.

　　Bob: Well, I’d like to drink to that! [raising his glass] To good “energy,” to friendship, and to the success of the Shanghai Diamondback Grille!

　　T.J., Cindy, C.C.: [toasting] Cheers! To the Diamondback Grille!

　　Language Use (用法)

　　1. I’m having a hard time deciding what to order.

　　我决定不了要点什么。

　　2. It’s not easy to book a table here.

　　这里要预定座位不容易。

　　3. We have connections.

　　我们有关系。

　　4. It’s really a pleasure to meet you.

　　见到你真高兴。

　　5. Nice to meet you.

　　幸会。

　　6. It’s not out of the question.

　　这不是不可能。

　　7. I’d like to propose a toast to…

　　我提议为…举杯祝贺

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