Documentary offers food for thought

There are many TV programs on Chinese cuisines, but few are like A Bite of China. The latest seven-part high-definition documentary offers insights into the geographical, historical and cultural dimensions of what Chinese eat.

关于中国美食的电视节目数不胜数,但很少有像《舌尖上的中国》这样从地域、历史以及文化等方面深入探讨中国人的饮食.

There are many TV programs on Chinese cuisines, but few are like A Bite of China. The latest seven-part high-definition documentary offers insights into the geographical, historical and cultural dimensions of what Chinese eat.

这部最新的七集高清纪录片由曾拿过大奖的纪录片制作人陈晓卿执导,从珍馐佳肴到地方小吃,用影像为观众呈现出各种令人垂涎欲滴的食物,同时该纪录片也用镜头记录下各种菜肴精致悦目的制作过程,理所当然地吸引了美食家以及普通观众的关注.

The latest seven-part high-definition documentary helmed by award-winning documentary maker Chen Xiaoqing, it is filled with mouthwatering images of food ranging from haute cuisine to local delicacies, the documentary captures the beautiful and refined process of food-making. The program is sure to attract both food buffs and ordinary audiences.

该片每集时长50分钟,主题涵盖了从食材到腌制品等各个方面.陈晓卿表示,"我们的节目则别出心裁,试图呈现出更多有关菜肴的文化元素,如饮食习惯和饮食道德."

Each episode lasts 50 minutes. Themes range from ingredients to preserved food. "The program tries to bring something new by presenting more cultural elements related to dishes, such as eating habits and the ethics of eating", Chen says.

这部纪录片带给我们的额外惊喜是,它并不仅仅展现美食.每一集都聚焦于不同的人群,讲述着人们和食物的美食奇遇."俗话说,'人如其食'."陈晓卿说,"食物总是与人联系在一起.纪录片里那些生动鲜活、令人垂涎的影像背后,是反映了人们生活环境和生活态度的亲身经历.这也是该片的独特元素之一."

The bonus is, the show is not only about dishes. Every episode will highlight different people, who will tell stories about their adventures with food. "As a saying goes, 'you are what you eat'," Chen says. "Food is always connected with people. Behind the documentary's eye-popping and mouthwatering images are personal stories that reflect people's living situations and attitudes. That's another component that makes it distinctive."

此外,《舌尖上的中国》在展现美食文化的同时,也捕捉到了社会的变革,例如大家庭中成员分散在各处,大家都在外工作,留下空巢老人在家乡生活.这种情况下,美食可以提醒人们去追忆美好时光,也成为家庭团聚时的餐桌佳品.

A Bite of China captures social transformations while presenting food cultures, such as showing the dispersion of extended families that leave the elderly in their hometowns while other members work outside - cases in which food serves as reminders of happy times and centerpieces of reunions.

词语注释：

数不胜数(shǔ bù shēng shǔ)shǔ bù shēng shǔ

珍馐佳肴(zhēnxiū jiāyáo)delicacy

垂涎欲滴(chuí xián yù dī)mouthwatering; lick one's chops

精致(jīngzhì)refine

涵盖(hángài)range; cover

腌制(yānzhì)preserved

别出心裁(bié chū xīn cái)break new ground

空巢老人(kōngcháo lǎorén)empty nest elders

(Source: myechinese.com)