Cuisine 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》这样的节目。这部最新的七集高清纪录片，从地域、历史以及文化这几个方面深入探讨了中国人的饮食。
Helmed by award-winning documentary maker Chen Xiaoqing, A Bite of China 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.
《舌尖上的中国》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，理所当然地会吸引美食家以及普通观众的关注。
Television is filled with food these days, especially introductions by top-notch chefs and close looks at the complicated and refined cooking processes of haute cuisine, Chen says.
陈晓卿表示，如今电视上充斥着各色美食，尤其是一些顶级大厨的推荐菜式和近距离观察高级菜肴复杂精细的烹饪过程。
"We have some appetite-boosting shots of food-making, but how to create dishes is only one aspect of food culture," Chen says.
“如今有许多令人食欲大增的美食节目，但如何做菜只是我们饮食文化中的一方面。”陈晓卿说。
"The program tries to bring something new by presenting more cultural elements related to dishes, such as eating habits and the ethics of eating."
“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.
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。
One episode, for example, centers on the staple foods.
举例来说，有一集就主要讲述了主食。
It recounts China`s history of paddy cultivation to explain why rice is the mainstay of the southern Chinese diet, while wheat flour is the foundation of the northern diet. But it goes further to break down every staple food into its various styles, such as the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region`s naan (flat bread) and Jiangsu province`s Huangqiao sesame cakes, both of which fall under the wheat category.
这一集通过追溯水稻种植的历史，解释了为何南方人的主食是米饭，而北方人则是面食。但所有主食又被进一步细分为不同类别，比如新疆维吾尔族自治区的馕和江苏省的黄桥烧饼都被归入面食类。
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.
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。
"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."
“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。”
To get enough good stories, the production team spent three months doing research and interviews in about 60 cities before they started shooting last July. Filming lasted about nine months.
为了获取足够的优秀素材，制作团队于去年七月开始拍摄之前，花了三个月时间，走遍大约60座城市进行调查采访。拍摄过程长达9个月。
An episode about pickles, for instance, revolves around a white-collar woman in Beijing, who returns to her hometown in Jilin province and makes pickles for the first time for her lonely mother.
例如，在讲述腌制食品的一集中，故事围绕一位北京白领女性展开。女孩回到吉林老家，第一次为孤单的母亲腌制泡菜。
Another episode captures joyful moments of sons and daughters making New Year cakes (rice pudding) after they return home from various metropolises to celebrate with their parents, who have been staying in their hometown in Zhejiang province.
另一集则记录了子女们在纷纷从各大城市返回浙江老家同父母一起过年、制作年糕的美好时刻。
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.
《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。
The storyline development went smoothly, but problems arose in recording the cooking process, Chen says.
陈晓卿说，尽管故事情节发展自然流畅，而在录制烹饪过程时还是出现了许多问题。
The camera had to be placed close to food that was being fried, stewed and simmered to capture vivid imagery.
为了捕捉到生动的画面，摄像机必须放置在或炸、或蒸、或炖的食物旁边。
The camera operators had to observe the scenes and reposition their cameras several times to keep from being splashed with oil.
摄像师们则必须密切观察现场，多次调整摄像机的位置，以免溅到油。
Chen says the seven episodes might not be enough to capture the glory of Chinese food culture. He`s planning a second and third installment.
陈晓卿说，仅仅七集的纪录片也许不足以展现中国饮食文化的辉煌成就。他正在筹备拍摄第二、三部续集。
The program tries to bring something new by presenting more cultural elements related to dishes, such as eating habits and the ethics of eating...
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