On Thanksgiving Day, which falls on Nov. 28 this year, families across the United States will gather for a holiday feast. It’s a tradition that traces back to the 17th century, when English settlers celebrated their first harvest in the New World.
11月28号是感恩节。感恩节的传统是全家团聚享受节日大餐。这个传统可以追溯到17世纪。英国人庆祝他们在新大陆的第一个丰收。
They shared the table with Native Americans, without whom they would not have survived that first year. The restaurant at the National Museum of the American Indian pays tribute to that feast, offering a taste of Native American cuisine that most Americans wouldn't normally sample during their Thanksgiving feast.
他们邀请了美国印地安人来共享盛宴，因为没有这些印地安人帮助他们无法在第一年生存下来。
The museum's Mitsitam Café is famous in Washington for serving great food with a generous dollop of cultural appreciation.
这里不是人们通常享受感恩节大餐的地方，不过华盛顿印地安文化博物馆的密斯塔姆咖啡屋的特别之处在于它既提供印地安美食，也能感受到文化的魅力。
“We always learn something new," said Marjorie Hass, a Mitsitam Café patron. "So, you get to have a delicious lunch and you learn a lot.”
顾客马杰丽.哈斯说：“在这里你能学到很多东西。既享受了美味的午餐，还可以学习知识。”
The museum celebrates Native American history and culture. And Executive Chef Richard Hetzler offers edible culture lessons for visitors to take home for Thanksgiving dinner.
这个博物馆的宗旨是展示印地安历史和文化。密斯塔姆咖啡屋厨房长理查德.赫兹勒解释说：
“We want people to eat seasonally," Hetzler said. "We want them to realize what Native Americans probably would have been eating at that time so they really get to see and taste some of those true ingredients.”
“我们提供的食物具有季节性。我们希望人们了解当时印地安人可能吃的食物，这样他们能看到和品尝到当时的食材。”
At this time of year in the Northeastern United States, that means squash, pumpkins and root vegetables, including some unusual ones like fresh black radishes.
在美国东北部，这个季节最常见的食材就是南瓜之类的食物，有些看上去可能有点儿怪。
"Something that most people wouldn’t think of as even being edible," Hetzler said. "If you walked by this at your farmer’s market, you’d probably think, ‘What am I going to do with this thing?’”
赫兹勒说：“这些是新鲜的黑萝卜。大多数可能想不到它能吃。如果你在农贸市场看到它，你可能会想：这怎么吃啊?”
But roast them with a little oil, he says, and they make a great salad.
他说，抹上油烤一烤用它能做一道美味的沙拉。
Hetzler wants to encourage people to be a little adventurous. Hence, the buttermilk-fried alligator.
赫兹勒鼓励人们大胆尝试。比如炸鳄鱼肉。
“People, because of being in the museum, become very generous eaters, or they like to try different things that might not be in their typical comfort zone,” he said.
赫兹勒说：“人们来到博物馆以后吃东西也变得大胆起来，他们愿意尝试一些以前没吃过的东西。”
OK, so there was no alligator at the first Thanksgiving. That’s a Southern thing. Hetzler admits taking some liberties with the Thanksgiving menu.
不过第一个圣诞节盛宴上显然没有鳄鱼肉，这可是一道南方菜。赫兹勒承认他们在感恩节菜单上的确加了一些想象力。
Pilgrims and Indians probably did not dine on smoked duck salad with a golden beet vinaigrette.
当年的清教徒和印地安人不太可能吃这道熏鸭沙拉。
But duck? Yes, probably.
And a corn, bean and squash dish called succotash.
“Succotash definitely, we think, would have been represented," Hetzler said. "It’s a very traditional Native American food.”
Don’t worry, they still serve the traditional turkey and cranberry sauce.
不过不要担心，他们的菜单上当然也有人们熟悉的传统火鸡和蔓越莓酱。
But for people who want a bit of museum sophistication on their Thanksgiving table, the Mitsitam Café is the place.
如果你希望一个有文化内涵的感恩节体验，可以说这里就是最合适的去处。
“We become a living exhibit within the museum because they get to taste, feel, smell and really immerse themselves in that native culture,” Hetzler said.
And enjoy some great food while doing it.
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