The term Western food is determined by its specific geographical location. "西" means west. Generally refers to Western European countries. "Meal" refers to dietary dishes. What we usually call Western food includes not only the food and dishes of Western European countries, but also the food of Eastern European countries, as well as the food of the Americas, Oceania, the Middle East, Central Asia, the South Asian subcontinent, and Africa. Western food generally uses knives and forks as cutlery and bread as the staple food, and the table is mostly in the shape of a long table.

The main characteristics of Western food are outstanding main ingredients, beautiful appearance, delicious taste, rich nutrition, and convenient supply.

Western food can be roughly divided into French, British, Italian, Russian, American, etc. People in different countries have different eating habits. There is a very vivid saying, "The French are complimentary." Eat with the chef's skills, the British eat with etiquette, the Germans eat with nutrition in mind, the Italians eat with pleasure..." Now, let's take a look at the main characteristics of different Western foods.

The top Western cuisine - French cuisine

The French have always been famous for being good at eating and being good at eating. French cuisine still ranks first among Western cuisines in the world.

The characteristics of French cuisine are: a wide selection of ingredients (such as snails and foie gras are both delicacies in French cuisine), fine processing, exquisite cooking, strong and light tastes, and many varieties of colors; French dishes are also They pay more attention to eating half-cooked or raw food. For example, steaks and lamb legs are characterized by being half-cooked and tender. Seafood oysters can also be eaten raw. Roast wild duck is usually ready to eat when it is 16 years old. French cuisine attaches great importance to seasoning and has a variety of seasonings. There are strict regulations on the use of wine for seasoning, such as wine for clear soups, brandy for seafood, various liqueurs or brandy for desserts, etc. There are many varieties of French dishes and cheeses. French people like to eat cheese, fruits and all kinds of fresh vegetables.

Famous French dishes include: Marseille fish soup, foie gras steak, Paris lobster, red wine pheasant, saffron chicken, chicken liver steak, etc.

Emphasis on simplicity and etiquette - British Western food

British food and cooking is known as family delicacies. The characteristics of British cuisine are: less oil and lightness, less wine is used for seasoning, and condiments are mostly placed on the dining table for guests to choose. The cooking emphasizes freshness and tenderness, and the taste is light. The selection of ingredients focuses on seafood and various vegetables. The quantity of dishes is required to be small and refined. The cooking methods of British dishes are mostly steaming, boiling, roasting and smoking.

Famous British dishes include: Chicken Salad, Grilled Prawn Soufflé, Potato Braised Lamb, Roasted Lamb Saddle, Winter Solstice Pudding, Meiji Steak, etc.

The ancestor of Western cuisine--Italian cuisine

During the Roman Empire, Italy was the political, economic, and cultural center of Europe. Although Italy later fell behind, it still relied on Western cuisine. Generally speaking, Italy is the ancestor, comparable to France and the United Kingdom.

The characteristics of Italian cuisine are: original flavor and famous for its rich flavor. Cooking focuses on frying, smoking, etc., and is famous for stir-frying, pan-frying, deep-frying, stewing and other methods.

Italians love pasta and there are many ways to make it. It is unique in making noodles. There are at least dozens of noodles of various shapes, colors and flavors, such as letter-shaped, shell-shaped, solid noodles, macaroni noodles, etc. Italians also like to eat Italian ravioli, Italian dumplings, etc.

Famous dishes of Italian cuisine include: macaroni vegetable soup, ravioli, cheese macaroni, minced meat macaroni, pizza, etc.

Nutritional and quick-American cuisine

American cuisine was developed on the basis of British cuisine, inheriting the simple and light characteristics of British cuisine, with a salty and sweet taste. Americans are generally not interested in spicy food and prefer grilled dishes. Fruits are often used as ingredients to cook with dishes, such as pineapple ham and vegetable and fruit roast duck. I like to eat a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. Americans do not have high requirements for food, as long as they are nutritious and fast.

Famous American dishes include: roast turkey, orange-roasted wild duck, American steak, apple salad, pancakes with sugar sauce, etc.

Western cuisine classic - Russian meal

The upper class in Tsarist Russia admired France very much. The nobles were not only proud to speak French, but also mainly learned French food and cooking techniques. .

But after years of evolution, especially in Russia, food pays attention to high-calorie varieties and gradually formed its own cooking characteristics. Russians like to eat hot food, and they like to eat small buns and meat pies made of fish, minced meat, eggs and vegetables. All kinds of snacks are quite famous.

Russian cuisine has a strong taste, likes to use oil, and the preparation method is relatively simple. The flavors are mainly sour, sweet, spicy, and salty. Sour cucumbers and pickled cabbage are often must-have foods on the restaurant or family tables. The cooking methods are characterized by roasting, smoking and pickling. Russian cuisine has a greater influence on Western food. People in some northern European countries and Central European Yugoslavs who are located in the cold zone have similar daily habits to Russians. Most of them like pickled fish, bacon, sausages, ham, sauerkraut, and pickled cucumbers. wait.

Famous dishes of Russian cuisine include: assorted cold cuts, caviar, pickle soup, cold apple soup, fish buns, butter chicken rolls, etc.

Beer, buffet - German cuisine

Germans are not particular about their diet. They like to eat fruits, cheese, sausages, sauerkraut, potatoes, etc. They do not seek flashiness but only value-for-money and nutrition. , first invented self-service fast food. Germans love to drink beer, and approximately 1 million liters of beer are consumed at the Oktoberfest every year.

A detailed discussion of Western food

People who are at the forefront of fashion should be familiar with Western food. Western food is an imported product that is completely different from our country's food culture. Many people have heard of it and have eaten Western food, but do they know the basics of such a complex and sophisticated thing?

Starting from this issue, this magazine will launch the "Outline of Western Food Culture" column to tell you about the long-standing Western catering culture...

What is Western food?

Western food is the collective name for Western dishes by the people of our country and some other Eastern countries and regions. Broadly speaking, it can also be said to be the collective name for Western catering culture.

What we call "Western" customarily refers to European countries and regions, as well as the vast areas of North America, South America and Oceania where these countries and regions are the main immigrants, so Western food mainly refers to This is the catering culture in the above areas.

Westerners call Chinese dishes "Chinese food", Japanese dishes as Japanese food, Korean food as Korean food, etc. They do not call them "Chinese food" in a general way. "Oriental cuisine", but it is divided into details and named according to the specific name of the country

In fact, the catering culture of Western countries has its own characteristics, and the dishes of each country are also different. , for example, the French will think that the food they cook is French food, and the British will think that the food they cook is British food. Westerners themselves do not have a clear concept of "Western food". This concept is the concept of Chinese and other Eastern people.

So why do we have such a concept? This is because when we first came into contact with Western food, we still couldn’t tell what Italian food was, what was French food, and what was British food. We could only have a general concept. At that time, Chinese people generally called it "Fancai", and "Fan" means the West. Ancient Chinese people often thought that China was the center of the world, and used to treat other countries and regions with a derogatory connotation. They called the east "Yi", the west "Fan", the north "Hu", and the south "Hu". It is called "barbarian". Therefore, the so-called "fancai" refers to Western food.

In addition, as far as Western countries are concerned, since the geographical locations of European countries are relatively close, and there have been many ethnic migrations in history, their cultures have already penetrated and integrated with each other, and they have many differences from each other* **The same thing. Furthermore, the religious beliefs of Western countries are mainly Catholicism, Orthodox Christianity and Protestantism (only a small number of people believe in Islam). They are all major branches of Christianity, so they have roughly the same dietary taboos and dining customs. As for South and North America and Oceania, their cultures are also in line with European culture. Therefore, regardless of whether Westerners have a clear concept of "Western food", Chinese people and other Easterners generally refer to this part of Western food culture as "Western food", but it is completely different from Eastern food.

However, in recent decades, with the continuous collision, penetration and integration of Eastern and Western cultures, Eastern people have gradually understood the different characteristics of various dishes in Western food, and have begun to treat them differently. Some high-end hotels have also opened French restaurants, Italian restaurants, etc. Western food as a general concept has gradually faded, but Western catering culture as an overall concept will continue to exist.

The Six M's of Eating Western Food

How to appreciate Western food culture. After long-term discussions and conclusions, scholars who study Western food believe that when eating Western food, you should pay attention to the following six "M's".

The first one is "Menu";

When you walk into a coffee shop or Western restaurant, the waiter will take you to your seat first. After you sit down, he will first What was served was the recipe. The menu is regarded as the face of the restaurant, and the boss always pays attention to it. The best materials are used for the cover of the menu. Some even use soft sheepskin with various beautiful patterns, which makes it look particularly elegant and delicate.

How to order food? Here is a rule of thumb: after opening the menu, look at which dish is named after the restaurant. Don’t miss this dish. Because that restaurant will not make fun of its reputation, so the dishes they put in the effort will definitely be delicious. Everyone must order this "signature dish".

Another point that needs special attention is that you should not treat the problem of ordering Western food with the same habits as eating Chinese food: that is, do not ignore the menu and do not let the waiter order for you. In France, even President de Gaulle and President d'Estaing have to order from a menu when eating Western food. Because reading recipes and ordering dishes has become an indispensable procedure for eating Western food, and it is a manifestation of an elegant lifestyle.

The second one is "Music";

Luxurious and high-end Western restaurants usually have bands playing some soft music, and ordinary Western restaurants also play some beautiful music. Elegant music. However, the most important thing here is the "audibility" of the music, that is, the sound must reach the level of "seeming to be heard but not heard". That is to say, if you concentrate on talking to friends, you will not hear it. When you are resting and relaxing, You can hear it, and you need to control the heat.

The third one is "Mood";

When eating Western food, you should pay attention to the elegant environment and harmonious atmosphere. There must be music, the table must be neat and clean, and all tableware must be clean. For dinner, the lights should be dimmed and there should be red candles on the table to create a romantic, charming and elegant atmosphere.

The fourth one is "Meeting";

That is to say, you have to choose who you want to eat Western food with. The best partners to eat Western food are relatives, friends or people with similar interests. Eating Western food is mainly to connect with each other, and it is best not to discuss business on the Western table. Therefore, in Western restaurants, the atmosphere is generally very warm and red-faced scenes are rare.

The fifth one is "Manner" (etiquette);

This refers to "eating appearance" and "eating attitude". Since you are eating Western food, you should follow Western customs and do not behave in an abrupt manner, especially when holding a knife and fork. If you dance with your hands, you will be "out of shape".

Knives and forks must be held correctly: the knife should be held in the right hand and the fork in the left hand. Cut the food into small pieces with a knife and put it in your mouth with a fork. Generally speaking, Europeans do not change hands when using knives and forks, and always use their left hand to hold the fork and put food into their mouths. Americans put the knife down after cutting, and hold the fork in their right hand to put the food into their mouths. But at any time, the knife must not be put into the mouth. At a Western banquet, the host will arrange for men and women to sit next to each other. Western gentlemen who pay attention to "ladies first" will show their attentiveness to ladies.

The sixth one is "Meal".

An American gourmet once said: "The Japanese eat with their eyes, and the form of cooking is very beautiful; we eat our Western food with our noses, so our noses are big; only you, the great Chinese, are talented Know how to eat with your tongue. "Chinese food is centered on "taste", while Western food is centered on nutrition. As for taste, it cannot be compared with Chinese food.

Western Dining Etiquette

1. When sitting, your body should be upright, your elbows should not be placed on the table, and your feet should not be crossed. It is better to keep the distance from the table to facilitate the use of tableware. Do not mess around with the tableware that has been placed on the dining table. Fold the napkin in half and place it gently in your lap.

2. When using a knife and fork to eat, take the knife and fork from the outside to the inside. Hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand. When cutting things, hold the fork in your left hand to hold down the food, and hold the knife in your right hand to cut it. Small pieces, brought to the mouth with a fork. When using a knife, the blade must not point outward. When you put down your knives and forks during a meal, they should be placed in an "eight" shape and placed on the edge of the dinner plate. The blade of the knife is facing towards you, indicating that you will continue to eat. After each dish is finished, place the knife and fork together on the plate. If you are talking, you can hold the knife and fork without putting it down. When not using a knife, you can hold a fork in your right hand. However, if you need to make a gesture, you should put down the knife and fork. Never wave the knife or fork in the air, nor hold a knife or fork in one hand while holding a napkin in the other hand. Mouth, nor should you hold a wine glass in one hand and a fork in the other hand to pick up vegetables. Remember, never put one end of a knife and fork on the plate and the other end on the table.

3. Don’t sip when drinking soup, and chew with your mouth closed when eating. Don't lick your lips or smack your lips to make sounds. If the soup is too hot, wait until it cools down slightly before eating. Do not blow it with your mouth. When drinking soup, use a spoon to scoop it from the inside out. When the soup in the soup plate is almost finished, use your left hand to slightly tilt the outside of the soup plate and scoop it out with a spoon. When you finish eating the soup, leave the spoon in the soup plate (bowl) with the spoon handle pointing towards you.

4. When eating fish, meat and other dishes with thorns or bones, do not spit them out directly. You can cover your mouth with a napkin and spit them gently on the fork and put them on the plate. If there is a small amount of food left on the plate, do not use a fork to scrape the bottom of the plate, and do not use your fingers to help eat. Instead, eat with a small piece of bread or a fork. When eating noodles, roll them up with a fork and then put them in your mouth.

5. Bread is usually broken into small pieces and put into the mouth. Do not bite the whole piece of bread. When spreading butter and jam, break the bread into small pieces before spreading.

6. When eating chicken, Europeans and Americans mostly value chicken breast meat. When eating chicken legs, you should remove the bones first and do not eat them with your hands. When eating fish, do not turn the fish over. After eating the upper layer, use a knife and fork to remove the fish bones before eating the lower layer. When eating meat, you should cut it into pieces and eat them one by one. Do not cut the pieces too large, or cut the meat into pieces at once. .

7. If you are willing to add milk or sugar when drinking coffee, stir it evenly with a small spoon after adding it, and place the small spoon on the coffee plate. When drinking, you should hold the cup handle with your right hand, hold the saucer with your left hand, and drink directly with your mouth. Do not use a small spoon to scoop it up one by one. When eating fruit, do not bite the fruit whole. You should first cut it into four pieces with a fruit knife, then remove the skin and core with a knife, and eat it with a fork.

8. Use a knife and fork to eat meat with bones. When eating meat with bones, you can eat it with your hands. If you want to eat more elegantly, it is better to use a knife. Use a fork to secure the entire piece of meat (you can point the fork upward and press the meat with the back of the fork), then insert a knife along the bone to cut the meat. It’s best to cut and eat at the same time. If you have to eat with your hands, handwashing water will be provided. When handwashing water is served together with bone-in meat, it means "please eat with your hands." After using your fingers to eat something, put your fingers in a bowl of hand soap and wash them. If you get your fingers dirty when eating ordinary dishes, you can also ask the waiter to bring you hand washing water. Pay attention to washing your hands gently.

9. It is polite to the chef to dip the bread in the sauce until there is no sauce left. Be careful not to "lick" the bread plate clean, but use a fork to fork the bread that has been torn into small pieces, and then eat it with a little sauce, which is an elegant approach.

The French have delicate emotions and romantic ideas. Therefore, French catering is very particular.

French food culture is very long. Starting from Louis XIV, France’s food diplomacy has become world-famous. In the heyday of French banquets, 200 dishes could be served on the dining table at one time. The French’s favorite dishes are snails and frog legs, their favorite food is cheese, their most expensive dish is foie gras, and their home-cooked dish is fried steak with shredded potatoes. In addition, the French are also the world’s drinking champions, especially wine. .

France is one of the three largest culinary kingdoms in the world. The French are very particular about food and are willing to spend money.

The French don't like to eat scaleless fish, nor do they like to eat spicy dishes. They generally like to eat delicacies that are slightly raw and tender. French people are generally happy to drink raw water (tap water) and are not used to drinking boiled water.

The world-famous French cuisine, with its exquisite and luxurious taste, has swept the stomachs of diners around the world. The French regard "eating" as one of the joys of life. They believe that food is not only a kind of enjoyment, but also It's an art. In the 16th century, the French court already had a very particular food culture. After the French Revolution, as the palace chefs disappeared from the market, palace cuisine began to take root among the people.

French cuisine attaches great importance to the use of "ingredients". It is a maxim of French cuisine that inferior ingredients will not produce good dishes. However, the characteristics of French cuisine using local materials make the tastes vary from north to south. Therefore, "Where to eat what kind of food, what kind of food to eat in what season" is very important!

The essence of French cuisine lies in the sauce (SAUCE). Because of their particular emphasis on ingredients, when the French use sauces, they do so without destroying the original flavor of the ingredients. A good sauce can enhance the flavor of the food itself. Flavor and texture, so how to prepare the best sauce depends entirely on the skill of the chef! In addition, French cuisine is also said to be the cuisine that best expresses the connotation of a chef. Every dish is an artistic creation for the chef.

French people’s dietary characteristics

They pay more attention to dinner. Like to drink wine, milk, black tea, etc. Go to the hotel to drink coffee, eat fruit and ice cream. Loves to eat beef, mutton, chicken, fish, shrimp, eggs, various kinds of roasted intestines, etc. I love eating all kinds of vegetables. I like to drink clear soup and eat fruits (especially pineapple).

When eating and drinking in a formal French restaurant, the use of tableware and wine utensils is meticulous. There is a lot of research into what kind of knife and fork to use for what kind of food, so everyone chose two or three sets in front of them. The same goes for wine glasses, because matching food and drink here is an art. It is customary to drink a glass of aperitif before a meal; during the meal, if you eat meat, drink dry red wine; if you eat seafood such as fish and shrimp, drink dry white wine; after the meal, some people also like to drink a little brandy. of hard liquor. The wine glasses used for each type of wine are different. Looking at tall, short, fat and thin people with several wine glasses placed in front of them, is it true that they can't bear the power of alcohol? But fortunately, there is no emphasis on deep feelings here, and one mouthful is stuffy. Xi asked everyone to chat while eating. The wine only served to add to the fun and adjust the atmosphere, but they frequently raised glasses, but they were all too light. Keep the atmosphere at the table pleasant, but not too loud.

The French have the following characteristics in their eating habits:

1. Pay attention to the cooking temperature, the freshness and tenderness of the dishes, and the quality of the dishes.

2. Taste: generally like fat, thick, fresh and tender, and prefer sour, sweet and salty.

3. Food: staple food is rice or flour, and likes snacks; non-staple food likes fat and tender pork, mutton, beef, fish, shrimp, chicken, eggs, various intestines and fresh vegetables, and occasionally They are also willing to taste some novel foods, such as snails, earthworms, malan, etc.; they like to use cloves, peppers, coriander, garlic, tomato juice, etc. as seasonings.

4. Preparation method: Preference for dishes made by frying, frying, roasting, roasting, stir-frying and other cooking methods.

5. Recipes: I really appreciate the braised mandarin fish, kung pao diced pork, crispy fried chicken, fried shrimp balls, shredded chicken with silver sprouts, pineapple turkey, caramelized apples and other flavorful dishes.

6. Water and wine: I am fond of wine, especially wine, rose wine, champagne, etc. People who generally cannot drink or do not know how to drink often drink beer; usually their usual drinks include mineral springs Water, soda, orange juice, black tea or coffee, etc.

7. Fruits: The French love to eat fruits, especially pineapples. Apples, grapes, kiwis, etc. are also their favorite varieties: dried fruits like raisins, sugar-fried chestnuts, etc.

"The French spend an hour enjoying an aperitif before a meal, with some olives and crackers. When they actually sit down to eat, they don't have that strong feeling of hunger." And in There are countless pauses between each bite of food. The relaxed and pleasant atmosphere during the meal, as well as the taste and praise of the food, help them easily maintain their figure.

French girls’ food is very It's a small portion.

On important occasions, champagne is opened after the meal, in another glass. By the way, French champagne is a sparkling white wine produced in the Champagne region, which is different from China's small champagne. When you are invited by a French person, don't think that just "just have some champagne" is enough, because this kind of wine is really not something you can drink casually.

People who have watched the movie "TITANIC" must have learned about the importance of cutlery. It will really shock you at first glance: there are three to four sets of knives on both sides of the plate. Forks and cups come in three sizes: large, medium and small. That is the most exquisite one. Generally, one or two sets of knives and forks are enough. For example, eating seafood is even more lively, and there are all kinds of tools. If you don't do something big, you will feel sorry for them. The general rule is to use the outermost knife and fork first when serving a dish, and remove them as you go. It will be easier to handle later. Large cups are for drinking water and others for red and white wine. The large spoon is only used for drinking soup or for sharing; the small spoon is used for sweets and coffee, and the latter is one size smaller than the former. If you are dining at home, you can wash the pots, bowls, cups and spoons in one meal. Fortunately, someone invented the dishwasher.

The procedure for eating is: first drink an aperitif, mainly wine with a higher alcohol concentration, and eat some salty crackers at the same time, which is equivalent to letting the stomach adapt. Then everyone comes to the table. The first course is usually cold dishes, hot vegetable pancakes or seafood, and a medium shallow plate is used; if the first course is soup, a deep plate and a large spoon are used. No matter what you eat, the first plate must be removed. The ensuing main course is served on a large platter and includes at least two hot dishes, one meat and one vegetarian, sometimes with rice or noodles as a side dish. The staple is always French bread. After everyone has put the food on their plates, the hostess picks up the knife and fork and says "good appetite to everyone" before the guests can start. Sometimes the guests do not understand the rules and make the first move. At this time, the hostess will immediately pick up the knife and fork calmly so as not to appear rude to the guests. After the hot dishes, cheese is sometimes added with lettuce, on a small shallow plate, and then after-dinner desserts are added with coffee or tea. Finally, sometimes hosts also recommend a digestif, which has a slightly higher alcohol concentration than an aperitif. Foreigners often don’t understand the French way of paying attention to wine and pour aperitifs to guests during meals; or some people pour a full glass like laobaigan in China, and then drink it all in one go; even the host and guest are not distinguished. , got up and poured the wine by himself. The French are generally more tolerant in such situations. Those who have been to China know a little bit about the Chinese way of doing things. They will joke: "When we were in China, we all followed their habits; in France, we still have to follow them." But they didn't mean to blame at all.

Most French people are good at cooking, especially when guests are at home, the couple will show off their skills. Generally speaking, when the guests arrive, the wife is responsible for greeting them, and the husband is responsible for the drinks. When necessary, they both cook and serve the dishes at the same time. In such an atmosphere, whatever you eat will give you a warm feeling. Not to mention the delicious food carefully prepared by the owner. If you dine in a restaurant, all kinds of dishes are not only delicious, but the chef can also use various food colors to spell out various patterns and styles. The degree of exquisiteness is not what ordinary families can do.

The most unacceptable thing for Chinese tourists visiting France when eating French food is the alternation of hot and cold, and the combination of sweet and salty: the first course, cold dishes (salty); the second course, hot dishes (salty); Three courses, sweets (cold); finally, coffee or tea (hot and sweetened), and not only that, but wine and cold water with the meal. Only your heart knows how your stomach will bear it after eating. But the French never feel uncomfortable and complain in a big way.

Although French food does not have several major cuisines like Chinese food, there are traditional representative dishes in various places, such as oil-soaked duck and foie gras in the Dordogne, sauerkraut sausage in Alsace, and Breton. Black noodle stew and pancakes from Tarney, beef and sheep meat from Normandy, fish soup from Provence and so on. The modern new French cuisine places more emphasis on the delicate taste and presentation style, so that people's taste and vision can enjoy the beauty