Michael Chugani 褚简宁 - A bucket list｜又中又英

It's been nine months since I left Hong Kong to return to the US. During that time I have visited many cities, most of which I have visited before. There is one city I have never been to but would really like to visit. That city is New Orleans in the state of Louisiana, which is in the southern part of the US. Louisiana was colonized by France in the 1700s. France then ceded it to Spain. New Orleans is on my bucket list. A bucket list, as I have explained before, is a list of things people want to do during their lifetime, or before they die. New Orleans is world-famous for its Creole cuisine, bars, restaurants, and its yearly carnival known as Mardi Gras.

Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans is famous for its nightlife and historic low-rise buildings of French and Spanish architecture. Friends have told me New Orleans is a fun city, especially during Mardi Gras. That's why it's on my bucket list. Creole cuisine, which originated in Louisiana during colonial times, is a style of cooking that blends French, Spanish, West African, and native American influences. A famous Creole dish is jambalaya, which is usually made with sausage meat, chicken or pork, shrimps or other seafood, onions, celery, and green bell peppers. These ingredients are quickly fried, after which rice, seasonings and broth are added. All the ingredients are cooked together until the rice is done.

Another famous Louisiana dish is gumbo, a stew made with sausage meat, chicken or seafood, onions, celery, green bell pepper, tomatoes, and seasonings. Okra is added to thicken the stew. It is usually eaten with rice. The French Quarter is the oldest district in New Orleans. It is famous for its bars, nightlife, and historic architecture. Mardi Gras, a French word, is a celebration which lasts for about two weeks in New Orleans. Mardi Gras is celebrated with parades, street carnivals, and dancing. It takes place every year around Easter time.
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自我离开香港回到美国以来，已经过了九个月了。在这段期间，我走访了许多城市，大部份都是以前曾经去过的。有一个城市是我从未去过而很想一游的，那就是美国南部路易斯安那州的新奥尔良。路易斯安那州于一七○○年代受法国殖民统治，后来法国又将之割让予西班牙。新奥尔良就在我的bucket list之上——正如我之前解释过，a bucket list就是人在有生之年又或死前想做的事的清单。新奥尔良以其克里奥尔（Creole）菜、酒吧、餐厅，以及一年一度的 Mardi Gras狂欢节，闻名于世。

新奥尔良法国区（French Quarter）的波旁街，其夜生活以至其低层法式与西班牙式历史建筑同样非常著名。朋友们告诉我，新奥尔良是个很有趣的城市，尤其在Mardi Gras狂欢节期间。因此它总在我的愿望清单（bucket list）之上。Creole菜起源于殖民时期的路易斯安那州，是糅合了法国、西班牙、西非及美国原住民文化影响的一道菜式。其中一道知名的克里奥尔（Creole）菜就是杂锦菜 jambalaya，通常以香肠肉、鸡或猪肉、虾或其他海鲜、洋葱、西芹和青灯笼椒煮成。这些食材会先快炒，然后加入米饭、调味以及高汤，全部材料会在锅中一起烹煮，直至米饭熟透。

另一个知名的路易斯安那菜是秋葵浓汤gumbo，是用香肠肉、鸡或海鲜、洋葱、西芹、青灯笼椒、番茄和调味料煮成的炖菜，再加上秋葵，令炖菜更浓稠。它通常是拌饭吃的。 The French Quarter是新奥尔良最古旧的法国区，它最出名的是酒吧、夜生活及历史建筑。 Mardi Gras是法语，是在新奥尔良长达两周的庆祝节日，这个狂欢节（Mardi Gras）会以巡游、街道嘉年华与舞蹈大事庆祝，每年约在复活节前举行。[email protected]
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁