Western Cuisine and Dining Customs in Desperate Housewives

【Abstract】A colorful food world was presented in Desperate Housewives. This paper takes it as an example to study western food culture from two aspects， cuisine styles and dining customs.

【Key words】Western food culture；Cuisine styles， Dining customs

【作者簡介】丁娟， 河北內丘人，天津旅游外事職業學校， 英語語言文學碩士， 天津旅游外事職業學校英語教師。

There is a picture in the opening of Desperate Housewives， apple and snake. The story coming from the Bible tells people not to pursue food by their desire. However， food is God for people. This paper takes Desperate Housewives as an example to study western food culture from two aspects， cuisine styles and dining customs.

1. Western Cuisine Styles

From the perspective of nature and food， the four heroines represent one dish each. Gabrielle， who has hot figure， bold personality and high-profile style， is paella which she took to the memorial party of Mary Alice. Bree is an ostensible model of the perfect housewife. She is the ironic incarnation of osso buco which she spent three hours on but got an indifferent answer “Its OK” from. Lynette wanders in her family and career. Such a feminist is well-matched with bratwurst with sweet and sour cabbage. Susan， an uncomplicated beauty but stumbling in love， is macaroni and cheese which appeared in almost all her moments embodying her innocence， clumsiness and even destiny. In view of geographical factors， the four families represent diverse regional dietary styles.

Italian food can be regarded as the origin of western food. Italy has rich and high-quality food materials.Thats why the flavor of its cuisine is always original and fresh. Italian food is also well-known for pasta and pizza. Lynette and Tom usually prepare spaghetti for their family in daily diet. Once they ran a pizza parlour where Lynette tasted ravioli. The classical Italian delicacy brought her an ineffable experience with Rick.

French cuisine is out of question the king of western food. It strives for innovation and excellence. It emphasizes order and taste. Elegant and elaborate decorations are its magnificent dressing. Bree is the spokeswoman for French food. In the morning， she baked croissant for her son. In the private gathering， she made canape for her neighbors. In the wedding ceremony， she designed croquembouche for her client.

American cuisine is an upstart of western food. Its popular with the public because its simple， fast and comprehensive. Susan isnt skilled at cooking. She usually asks for help from Bree， orders takeouts or dines out. Even so， she couldnt stop loving American food. She enjoys steak with her love in a fancy restaurant. She shares a homemade mincemeat pie with her neighbor.

Mexican cuisine ，famous for its spicy flavor and florid colors， is the minority of western food. Both Gabrielle and Carlos are Latino Americans making Nachos， tamale and enchilada common on their dining table. Besides， their biological daughter who was mistaken by another family has the same passion for Mexican food. Its definitely not a coincidence.

2. Western Dining Customs

Westerners believe that the best realm of diet is individuality. Each dish is a combination of quantity， separable and restorable. The true essence of it is independence. Its good at using patterns and formats with strong practicability， little waste and few sanitary problems.

The layout of western dinner takes the order of appetizer， soup， salad， main course and dessert. Shrimp cocktail is a classical appetizer. Brees young boyfriend Keith put the proposal ring in it. Borscht is an unforgettable soup. Prestons Russian girlfriend Irene splashed it on Lynettes face. Beef stew is full of mercy. Susan took care of Paul Young by making it on her own. Pineapple upside down cake costs a great deal of endeavor. Gabrielle made it by phone instructions from Bree.

The dining table is the only place where the first hour is never dull. Western dining patterns are somehow entertaining including brunch， buffet， pot lock and progressive dinner. In the first season pot luck was presented while progressive dinner appeared in the last season. The two distinctive dining ways are echoing each other in front and behind.

Life can not be separated from good food and it is inseparable from good wine.The need for wine in western dining table is beyond imagination. There are so many kinds of wine， distilled wine， blending wine and brewing wine. Gabrielle often shares Margarita with Susan and Lynette.

3.Conclusion

Western food culture which is innovative and fabulous is closely related to westerners ideology of belief in Christianity. At the end Susan and his son picked up a bottle of plum jam and threw it against the wall with anger and sorrow. People use food to vent all their emotions. Above all， food is the staff of life.

References：

[1]杜莉，孫俊秀.西方飲食文化[M].北京：中國輕工業出版社，2015.