提起美国，浮现在你脑海的可能是总统奥巴马，也可能是各种剧情吸引的美剧；而提起美式食品，你想到的可能是各种汉堡、批萨，以及超市中千篇一律的微波食品。诚然，大部分美国人确实热衷于这些单调而无趣的快速食品，不过，偌大的美国总有些让你意想不到的美味。现在，大家就先跟着我的文字一饱眼福吧！
You might think of President Obama or various TV shows when talking about the US, and different kinds of hamburgers, pizzas and microwave food in supermarkets when it comes to the American dishes. Although most American people do love this kind of simple diet, there’s got to be some special cuisine in this great land. Go feast yours eyes in the lines!
墨西哥铁板烧——Fajitas
Photo by stu_spivack on Flickr, 循CC协议使用
美国与墨西哥地缘相近，饮食自然会受其影响。Fajitas便是其中的“德墨菜系”（Tex-Mex）典型代表。Fajita在西班牙语中意思是“小腰带”的意思，是一种被切成像女生裙子一样的牛肉条（即我们现在戏称的“裙边牛排”）。在以前，这种从牛肋上切下的无骨牛肉条被认为没有太多营养价值，农场主用此来打发可怜的牛仔们，把它作为报酬的一部分。幸运的是，牛仔们完全懂得物尽其用，他们用这种牛肉条做成了美味的fajitas，成为了Tex-Mex的精华菜式。将铁板上烤得兹啦兹啦响的、充满肉汁的牛肉卷入烤得香嫩的玉米饼中，一口咬下去，肉汁喷涌而出，牛肉的肉香与卷饼的面香交织在一起，哟西，根本停不下来！o(≧v≦)o~~~
America and Mexico are geographical neighbors, which is a significant factor that affects American’s cuisine, and Fajita is certainly a typical representative of Tex-Mex cuisine. “Fajita”, literally meaning “little belt” in Spanish, is the diaphragm of the rib, also known as the skirt steak, which was once be used as cowboys’ pay because the ranchers thought it was not that nutritional. The cowboys, however, made full use of what they had and invented fajitas, which now becomes a part of the Tex-Mex dishes. Grilled skirt steak wrapped in tortilla, one bite, juicy, another bite, yummy, you can hardly stop from eating!
牛排——Steak
Photo by Powerplantop on Flickr, 循CC协议使用
在美国的饮食文化中，牛排算是非常重要的组成部分了，大街小巷都是steak house。人们对牛排的需求量十分庞大，许多牛排品牌便应运而生，比如在美国很有品牌效应的OMAHA STEAK等。上好的牛排，简简单单的煎制已是人间美味。那么，牛的哪些部位最好吃呢？
Steak plays quite an important part in America’s food culture. There are steak houses everywhere, and many steak brands emerge due to the great demand, such as OMAHA STEAK, a famous brand in the US. Steak of top quality doesn’t need much seasoning. It tastes like heaven even though it is cooked in the simplest way. So which part of the beef tastes extremely fantastic?
1. 菲力牛排：该词源自法语，它指的是来自牛的腰部的小块里脊肉，是牛身上最贵的部分。因该部位运动量最少，所以质地超嫩，油脂也极少，是爱吃肉又怕胖的美眉最佳选择。
2. 纽约牛排：取自上等无骨里脊肉，它的纤维较粗，微微带有嫩筋，油脂分布不那么均匀漂亮，但嫩中带腴，香甜多汁，嚼起来满口肉感，非常过瘾。
3. 西冷牛排：它其实也是纽约牛排的一部分，肉质更为上乘，口感更为丰富。
1. Filet mignon, the tenderloin of the cattle, with its named originated from French, is the most expensive part of a cattle, because it contains less fat and tastes very tender, which makes it a good choice for girls who have desire for meat while afraid of getting fat.
2. New York Steak, boneless tenderloin, is a bit stringy and the fat is not that nicely distributed, but it is tender and juicy with great texture.
3. Sirloin is actually nicer part of the N.Y. Steak with better texture.
想要品尝牛排最纯粹的味道，关键是不要放太多的调料。将锅烧得非常热后，放上少许的植物油或黄油，便可开始煎制，高温会把牛排的表面封住，锁住肉汁，然后再根据自己的口味决定肉质的生熟程度，最后撒上少许盐，并加上配菜，原汁原味为的美式牛排就做好喇！
In fact, steak doesn’t need much seasoning if you want to have the purest taste. When the pan is heated, put some vegetable oil or butter in it, and then the steak. High temperature can lock the juices of the meat. You can have your steak done whatever you like. Finally, seasoning a bit salt and adding some side dishes like broccoli, the original flavor of steak is ready to be served.
我知道，身为资深吃货的你在看完介绍之后，你的天空星星都亮了；我也知道，你肯定饿了；我更知道，以上美食还不足以填补你深夜的空虚。下期，我们将介绍老美的其他本土美味，让你一次爱个够！
【饮食小tips】大家到外国餐厅吃饭，服务生肯定会问你，牛排想要几成熟？该怎么回答呢？
—Sir (Miss), how do you like your steak (cooked)?
—Rare. (一成熟)
Medium rare.（三成熟）
Medium.（五成熟）
Medium well.（七成熟）
Well done.（全熟）
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