寒冬腊月，火锅总是最受大家欢迎的食物。火锅最初是在四川、重庆一带流行，后来变成了全国人民都喜爱的美食。现在不管南北的人们，一到冬天，都爱吃火锅。这不仅因为火锅的味道好，更重要的是，它是一种可以促进人们情感交流的美食。
The chafing dish is Chinese people's most favorable choice in winter. Originally, it was very popular in the region of Sichuan and Chongqing, but later it has spread all over the country and become favored by the whole nation. Nowadays, people love to have chafing dish in winter no matter if they live in the North or the South, not only because it is delicious but also because it provides an occasion for people to get together and exchange feelings.

        试想一下，在寒冷的冬天，约上自己的亲朋好友，准备好牛、羊肉和各种蔬菜，再加上特制的酱料，一桌丰盛的美食就算备齐了。大家热热闹闹地围坐在桌边，一边吃着热腾腾的涮肉和涮菜，一边和家人、朋友、同事聊着天。不仅身体暖和起来了，心里也是暖暖的，气氛其乐融融。
In the cold winter, people prepare beef, mutton, vegetables and special sauce on the table and invite their friends and relatives to enjoy the tasteful chafing dish. They are happily boiling vegetables and thin slices of meat in the soup, and in the meanwhile, having a heart-to-heart chat with others. The whole body gets warmer as people enjoy the hot food, and the hearts also gets warmer as they commune with one another. 

        现在，火锅的种类也变得丰富了。以前主要是涮羊肉，因为薄薄的羊肉片放在锅里一烫就熟了，容易保持肉的鲜美。现在能涮的东西越来越多了：有肥牛火锅，鱼火锅，海鲜火锅，野山菌火锅......只要你想得到的，都可以成为火锅的新食材。
Nowadays, there have been different kinds of chafing dish. People used to have mutton for the dish because the thin slice of mutton can be easily cooked in a few minutes without losing its tenderness and freshness. Now people have more alternative ingredients, for example, beef, fish, seafood, and wild mushrooms. You can also DIY your own chafing dish with what you prefer.

• favorable [´feivərəbəl]   a.赞成的；顺利的   (初中英语单词)
• delicious [di´liʃəs]   a.美味的，可口的   (初中英语单词)
• meanwhile [´mi:n´wail]   n.&ad.其间；同时   (初中英语单词)
• originally [ə´ridʒənəli]   ad.本来；独创地   (高中英语单词)
• mutton [´mʌtn]   n.羊肉   (高中英语单词)
• tenderness [´tendənis]   n.娇嫩；柔软；温柔   (高中英语单词)
• commune [´kɔmju:n]   n.公社   (英语四级单词)
• freshness [´freʃnis]   n.新鲜   (英语四级单词)
• alternative [ɔ:l´tə:nətiv]   a.二中选一的 n.选择   (英语四级单词)