1. Read the following dialogue and answer the questions:

It is known that religious faith influences on the choice of food-stuffs and dishes which are consumed in their countries. Here is a dialogue ‘Religious forbids’ between a reporter and the chef de cuisine of a new hotel restaurant in Amsterdam.

R. I understand that apart from serving a wide variety of international

dishes and specialties, you also cater for various religions and also

people suffering from diabetes and ulcers.

Ch. That’s quite correct. We aim to satisfy all our customers whatever

religion or state of health. Although there are quite a number of

vegetarian restaurants springing up, there seems to be a lack of

place offering special menus or even diet plates.

R. What are the problems involved in preparing meals for Moslems and

Hindus, for example?

Ch. Well, of course, first of all, Moslems, that is all Moslems, are

forbid-den to eat pork, bacon, ham or any foods containing pork in any form. Nor may they eat crabs, lobsters, shrimps or eels.

R. But surely that was just a custom evolved to avoid food poisoning in

hot desert countries, wasn’t it?

Ch. Not only that. It’s part of their faith and culture. After all, how many

Christians would be happy to eat horse, cat or even mice?

R. Are the Hindus the same?

Ch. Hindus do not eat beef or veal which unfortunately cuts out some of

our superb dishes. But we have a large selection of special Indian

fare.

R. Isn’t it a bit off-putting to have people asking you to explain the ori-

gins of stews, pies and sausages?

Ch. It is no more disconcerting than the Greek habit of coming straight

into the kitchen to see what is on the menu. After all we have

nothing to hide.

R. And how about ‘kosher’ food?

Ch. I must admit Jewish catering is much more complicated, following

as it does the strict dietary laws and traditions laid down according to the Jewish religion.

R. What sort of problems come up there?

Ch. First of all, blood must not be eaten and that means that animals

have to be slaughtered in such a way that the blood is completely drained out of the animal. There again Jews are not allowed to eat the meat of animals which have no cloven hooves or do not chew the cud.

R. So that cuts out pork, too. How about oxtail soup?

Ch. The hindquarters of animals are also forbidden. Another prohibition

is the use of milk and meat together. Staff are not allowed to mix meat and milk equipment either in the kitchen or the food service area and after a meat meal Jews are not permitted milk foods for 4 hours.

R. How about eggs dishes?

Ch. They are allowed. To start the meal you can have a vegetable soup

and fish for the main course avoiding skate and turbot of course, because fish must have fins and scales. The dessert need cause you no problems as you don’t have to avoid cream as you have not served meat.

R. What about the fats used in the preparation of the food. Lard and

dripping are presumably out, aren’t?

Ch. Yes. We have to use butter or vegetable oil.