（原文發表于2020年11月19日）奶酪火鍋是瑞士人最喜愛的治愈系美食之一。如果你想和親朋好友一起吃一頓舒適的冬日晚餐，那么它會是一個完美的選擇。然而，由于受新冠肺炎疫情的影響，一些人擔心吃奶酪火鍋會帶來健康風險。

The days are growing cold, the first snow is falling on the ski slopes, and Swiss minds are turning to their favourite dish. Nothing is more comforting than sitting round the table with good friends, sharing a cheese fondue.

天氣越來越冷，初雪飄落在滑雪山坡上，瑞士人的心思轉向了他們最愛的菜肴。沒有什么比和好友圍坐在桌旁，一同享用奶酪火鍋更溫馨愜意的事情了。

But in these troubled Covid times, some are questioning the fondue ritual: spearing a piece of bread, dipping it in a communal pot of bubbling cheese, and transferring it straight to your mouth. No self-respecting Swiss wants to endure a winter without fondue – but is it safe?

但在新冠疫情的困難時期，一些人對奶酪火鍋的吃法產生了質疑：用叉子叉起一塊面包，蘸上公用鍋里咕嘟冒泡的奶酪，然后直接放到嘴里。沒有任何一個地道的瑞士人愿意忍受沒有奶酪火鍋的冬季，但這種吃法安全嗎？

Arnaud Favre, who organises the annual fondue festival, is sure it is. Unfortunately for Arnaud, his fondue festival has been cancelled this year – big crowds of cheese-hungry people are too much of a risk. Restaurants in many parts of Switzerland are closed too – but a fondue at home with friends is still allowed, although the ritual is becoming more flexible. 

一年一度的奶酪火鍋節的組織者阿瑙德·法夫爾確信這樣做是安全的。對阿瑙德來說，遺憾的是，今年的奶酪火鍋節被取消了，因為大批渴望享用奶酪的人聚集在一起太危險了。瑞士多地的餐廳也都關閉了，但是在家里和朋友們一起吃奶酪火鍋仍然是允許的，不過在家的吃法就更靈活了。 

Instead of one fork, fondue fans suggest, have two: one for dipping, and the other for eating. The advice seems to be working – as the Swiss brace themselves for this Covid winter, fondue sales are rising.

奶酪火鍋愛好者們建議，不要用一把叉子，可以用兩把叉子，一把用來蘸奶酪，另一把用來把食物放入口中。這條建議似乎很有效，在瑞士人準備迎接這個疫情籠罩的冬天，火鍋的銷售量正在上升。

詞匯表

ski slopes 滑雪坡
comforting 令人寬慰的，溫馨的
cheese fondue （瑞士傳統飲食）奶酪火鍋
ritual 吃法
spearing （用尖利的工具）叉，刺
dipping 蘸，浸
communal 公用的
endure 忍受，忍耐
cheese-hungry 渴望吃奶酪的
brace （為困難）做準備

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. True or false? People in Switzerland are not very fond of cheese fondue. 

2. What is the fondue ritual?

3. Are people still allowed to eat cheese fondue together in Switzerland?

4. What do fondue fans suggest changing about the ritual of eating cheese fondue?

答案

1. True or false? People in Switzerland are not very fond of cheese fondue.
False. Swiss minds are turning to their favourite dish as winter approaches, meaning they love cheese fondue.

2. What is the fondue ritual?

It involves spearing a piece of bread, dipping it in that communal pot of  bubbling cheese, and transferring it straight to your mouth.

3. Are people still allowed to eat cheese fondue together in Switzerland? 
Yes. Eating it at home with friends is still allowed, though restaurants in most parts of Switzerland are closed.

4. What do fondue fans suggest changing about the ritual of eating cheese fondue?
They suggest using two forks instead of one – one for dipping, and the other one for eating.