又中又英——aperitif

　　As readers may know by now, my favourite drink is a martini. I used to drink martinis as an aperitif, then switched to red or white wine. But I have gone off red wine and seldom drink white wine. I sometimes drink whiskey but my drink of choice is an ice-cold (very cold) martini. The French word “aperitif” means an alcoholic drink people have before a meal to stimulate the appetite. If you have gone off something, it means you no longer like something or someone. The expression “drink of choice” or “cuisine of choice” means your favourite drink or type of food. Cantonese food is my cuisine of choice.
　　There are many types of martinis but the only one I drink is the traditional martini, which is known as a classic martini. It is made with six parts gin and one part vermouth. This combination is put into a shaker with a lot of ice and either shaken or stirred. I prefer stirred martinis. The martini is then poured into a chilled martini glass. Some people prefer adding a green olive to it, others prefer a twisted lemon peel. Sometimes I add an olive, other times a lemon peel. Some people like a “dry” martini. A martini cannot be dry because it is liquid. The word “dry” used this way means adding less vermouth, which means the martini is almost just gin!
　　Using vodka instead of gin for a martini has become popular. It is called a vodkatini. I like both types. Experts say a martini should only be an aperitif because it doesn’t match well with a meal. They say wine matches better with meals. As an aperitif, martinis go well with appetizers, which are small dishes before a meal, such as shrimp cocktail, cheese, or smoked salmon on toast. Sometimes I think food experts are bullshit. I like martinis with Cantonese food, sushi, and even steak! Do what you enjoy. Bon appétit. This is a French expression before a meal. It means have a good appetite.
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　　各位读者现在应该都已知道，我最喜欢的饮品是马天尼。我过去一向将马天尼当作开胃酒（aperitif）来喝，然后再喝红酒或白酒；但我已不再喜欢（gone off）红酒，也很少喝白酒了。我有时会喝威士忌，但我首选的杯中物（drink of choice）仍是一杯冰冻的（ice-cold）马丁尼。法语“aperitif”是指人们在餐前为了增加食欲而喝的开胃酒。若你已gone off something，意即你不再喜欢或开始厌烦某事或某人。习语“drink of choice”或“cuisine of choice”即是你首选、至爱的饮品或菜式。广东菜就是我的cuisine of choice，我的至爱。
　　马天尼有很多款式，但我独独喝传统马天尼，亦是被称为经典马天尼的一款。它是由六份毡酒跟一份苦艾酒混合而成，这个比例的组合会放进满是冰的摇杯中，摇匀又或搅拌，然后倒进冰镇过的马天尼杯中。有些人喜欢放一粒橄榄作点缀，另一些人则会要扭柠檬皮。有时我会加颗橄榄，有时则是柠檬皮。有些人喜欢「干」（“dry”）马天尼。一杯马天尼不可能是「干」的（dry），因为它是液体啊；“dry”在这里是指少加一点苦艾酒，那意味着马天尼差不多只得毡酒！
　　近年渐趋流行用伏特加酒取代毡酒来做马天尼，那叫做vodkatini，即伏特加天尼，我两样都喜欢。专家说，马天尼应该只能作为开胃酒（aperitif）来喝，因为它跟主餐并不相配；他们说，葡萄酒更为搭配主餐。作为开胃酒（aperitif），马天尼跟appetizers搭配最好——appetizers就是前菜，例如鸡尾酒虾、芝士又或烟三文鱼多士这些小碟。有时我认为食物专家都是胡说八道。我就很喜欢边喝马天尼边吃广东菜、寿司，甚至牛扒！即管做自己享受的事吧！Bon appétit. 这是个用膳前说的法式习语，它的意思是祝在座的人有好的胃口，尽情享用美食。[email protected]
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁