Most Chinese diners pick up food from public plates with the same pair of chopsticks that they then use to eat, or serve others. 【小题1】 But the government hopes to change habits by urging people to use a second pair of chopsticks—just for serving.

【小题2】 Dr. Zhong Nanshan and Dr. Zhang Wenhong, outspoken infectious disease experts who have become celebrities since the start of the outbreak, have voiced their support. The authorities across the country are running advertisements with slogans like: “The distance between you and civilized dining is just one pair of serving chopsticks.”

Some restaurants and diners have taken notice of the call. 【小题3】 In the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, more than 100 excellent restaurants have formed a “Serving Chopsticks Alliance.”

【小题4】 Many see sharing food with one’s own chopsticks as among the most real expressions of China’s communal (shared) culture and emphasis on family, no less inseparable than hugging is to Americans or the cheek kiss is to the French. 【小题5】.

By contrast, wheat-eating northerners, and particularly the men, take pride in what Chinese call “eating big and drinking big,” without care for such petty (small and unimportant) concerns as germs and bacteria. Never mind a small, recent experiment by government experts who found that the level of bacteria in dishes for which serving chopsticks were used was as little as 0.4 percent the level of dishes shared in the regular fashion.

Whether you consider yourself a foodie or not, food is part of your daily routine. Also, food has a way of bringing people together. It is the focus of celebrations. George Bernard Shaw said it well: “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

Many of us have traveled and tasted the world’s cuisine while watching Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations or Parts Unknown or the energetic Peter Maneas in his show My Greek Odyssey. Following in their footsteps, the next best thing is to go on a culture & culinary (烹饪的)vacation.Not only will you get to try mouth­watering dishes, but you’ll also get to know more about the local culture and how it influenced the cuisine.

Local cuisine gives people an identity. Years ago, I was visiting Vienna with a group of friends.And one of them insisted on checking out the only restaurant in town serving Romanian food, just “like at home”．People who identify with traditional dishes from their home countries often come to this kind of restaurant as it feels like their “home away from home”．

Food reflects people’s opinions on life. Greeks have strong ties among the community. Mezedes, a collection of small dishes served as appetizers (开胃菜), are shared among the diners.The stories told over tzatziki, spanakopita, and dolmades create lifetime memories. Italians have great respect for their food and often talk about it.They also don’t mind spending a lot of time in the kitchen.Family meals are often joyful events with piles of dishes being served during an entire afternoon.

Food helps you discover other languages. People across the world love to gather around the table. Preparing the foods and eating also spark great conversations. It’s the best opportunity to learn how to correctly pronounce foreign­language menu items.Knowing the local language will not only help you immerse (沉浸) in the culture but also build a hefty vocabulary!