英首相邀平民大厨掌勺G20 配“反危机食谱”

JAMIE OLIVER has been invited by Gordon Brown to cook a banquet at No 10 for President Barack Obama and other leaders of the G20, offering a cut-price menu to reflect recessionary times.

Downing Street sources say the celebrity chef will cook using “honest high-street products” and avoid expensive or “fancy” ingredients.

The prime minister is keen to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment last year when he sat down to an 18-course gastronomic extravaganza at a Japanese summit to discuss world food shortages.

Obama, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and other leaders will be served by apprentices from Fifteen, the London restaurant Oliver founded to help train underprivileged young people.

Brown wants the dinner next week to reflect the emphasis of the London summit, which he hopes will lead to an agreement to lift the world out of recession. “To be invited to cook for such an important group of people who are trying to solve some of the world’s major problems, well that really is a privilege,” said Oliver.

“I’m hoping the menu I’m working on will show British food and produce is some of the best in the world, but also show we have pioneered a high-quality apprentice scheme at Fifteen London that is giving young people a skill to be proud of.”

The chef has yet to finalise the menu, but is expected to draw inspiration from his latest book, Jamie’s Ministry of Food, which has budget recipes for beef and ale stew and “mega” chocolate fudge cake.

This week Brown leaves for a six-day world tour to build support for his proposed “global new deal”.

The journey culminates with a gathering of centre-left leaders at Vina del Mar, a Chilean beach resort.

（平民厨师）杰米．奥利弗应英国首相戈登．布朗的邀请，将担任在唐宁街10号举行的G20宴会的主厨。届时他将为美国总统巴拉克．奥巴马和其他各国首脑配制经济实惠的“反危机”食谱。

唐宁街的消息人士称这位知名厨师将会用“实惠的高地街大众食材”来烹制菜肴，而不会使用昂贵或“花哨”的材料。

布朗首相希望通过此举避免去年在日本峰会上的尴尬重演。去年在日本举行的八国峰会上，日本主办方一边与各国领袖讨论世界粮食短缺问题，一边却提供包括18道精美菜肴的豪华大餐。

本次宴会的服务生将由来自奥利弗在伦敦开办的“十五”（Fifteen）餐厅的学徒们担任，届时他们将负责招待奥巴马、法国总统尼古拉斯．萨科齐、德国总理安格拉．默克尔以及其他国家领导人。奥利弗开办“十五”餐厅的主要目的是为了教授穷苦家庭出生的的年轻人掌握一项谋生技能。

布朗希望借下周的宴会来反映伦敦峰会的重点，他希望各国在这次峰会上能达成协议，共同应对世界经济衰退。奥利弗说：“能够应邀来为这些试图解决世界重大问题的各国要人们掌勺，我深感荣幸。”

“我希望我配制的菜单能够展现英国堪称世界一流的食物和产品，并能展示我们在伦敦“十五”餐厅率先开展的高质量的学徒项目，这一项目能让年轻人掌握一项可引以为傲的技能。”

这位大厨还没有最终确定菜单，但他很可能会从他最新出版的书《杰米的食品部》中汲取灵感，该书介绍了牛肉、啤酒炖菜和“特级”巧克力软糖蛋糕等食谱。

本周布朗将踏上为期六天的世界之旅，为他的“全球新政”提议寻求支持。

本次旅行将以中左政党领导人在智利海边度假胜地维纳德马的聚会而告终。

Vocabulary:

cut-price:廉价的