21-1  Normal Service for a Chinese Banquet

Scene: Fang (F) is telling David (D) how a Chinese banquet is served.

D:  Mr Fang I was told a Chinese banquet always surprises us big eaters. I've never experienced

      that. Tell me somethingabout it.

F:  It's a pleasure. A Chinese dinner usually starts with an assorted cold dish. It can be mixed

      seafood, poultry orvegetables. Then comes the shark's fin soup.

D:  That's all?

F:   Not yet. Following the shark's fin soup, there will be a chicken dish, a prawn, a duck or a

      pigeon dish. Then comes a clear soup, followed by a fish. When you see fish, you know that

      all the main dishes have been served and the dinner will finish up with rice.

D:  It's a feast to feed a small army.

F:  Lastly, there are two or four kinds of dim sum for dessert, then fresh fruit and a cup of hot tea

      to conclude the dinner.

21-2   Misserving

Scene: Mr Bellow (B) is having hislast dish. He finds it different from what he has ordered.

B:  Excuse me, sir. I ordered the hairy crab but you gave me the green crab.

Waiter (W) : I'm sorry, sir. I'll get you the headwaiter.

      (Soon the head waiter (HW) comes.)

HW:  I'm awfully sorry. There must have been some mistake. I do apologise for giving you the

      wrong dish. I'll change it immediately for you. The crab will take 15 minutes to prepare. Would

      you take some complimentary drink while waiting?

B:  I'm afraid I don't have enough time to wait for the next crab. I have an appointment at 7:00 in

      my room. Now it's 6:45.

HW:  Oh, you are staying at our hotel. Mr…?

B:    Bellow, Henry Bellow.

HW:  Room …?

B:    Room 908.

HW:  Oh, Mr Bellow, I will ask the Room Service to serve you a snack at 9:30 tonight, and you'll

      have your favorite hairy crab. It's all on the house. And now try the green crab if you don't mind.

      We'll cross the green crab off the bill.

B:   That's good. Thank you.

HW:  Thank you for telling us,Mr Bellow. I assure you it won't happen again. Please take your time

      and enjoy yourself. And I hope you have a good time at our hotel.

Word List                                        

Misserve             v.（此处）上错菜	apology              n.道歉
Complimentary   a.恭维的，（此处）  优惠、免费的	appointment          n.约会
normal              a.正规的、正常的	feast                    n.宴会
banquet              n.盛宴	daily                （此处为）日报
China               中国日报	assorted             a.拼合的
seafood              n.海味	poultry              n.家禽
shark                n.鲨鱼	fin                  n.鳍
shark's fin            鱼翅	pigeon               n.鸽子
dim sum             点心	conclude             v.终结
prawn               n.明虾

 

Useful Expressions

on the house                            免费

to start with sth.                      从某事开始

to finish (up) with sth.             以某事结束

to lend sb. a hand                    帮助某人

to rest on                                  放置于