伊利诺伊州内珀维尔市的芝士蛋糕工厂餐厅。蒂莫西·海亚特/盖蒂图片社北美分社 美食大战！
The Cheesecake Factory in Naperville, Illinois. Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images North America Food fight!
本周，芝士蛋糕工厂连锁餐厅意外地发现自己置身于政治话语之中。
This week, the Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain unexpectedly found itself in the political discourse.
在俄亥俄州的一次竞选活动中，前总统奥巴马批评特朗普总统偏爱金色装饰，称：“他把白宫搞得像萨达姆·侯赛因开了一家芝士蛋糕工厂。”
During a campaign event in Ohio, former President Obama criticized President Trump's affection for gold decor, saying, "He's got the White House looking like Saddam Hussein opened a Cheesecake Factory."
特朗普的财政部长斯科特·贝森特在白宫附近的一家芝士蛋糕工厂吃了一份法式浸牛肉芝士汉堡作为午餐进行反击，他对记者说：“我吃了一顿美餐，每次都吃得很棒。我会建议玛莎葡萄园岛那帮人试一试。”
Trump's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent retaliated by having a French Dip Cheeseburger for lunch at a Cheesecake Factory near the White House, telling reporters, "I had a great meal, always have a great meal. I would tell the Martha's Vineyard set to give it a try."
但这场最新的党派辩论让我产生了疑问。为什么要花费6亿美元或更多来建造一个新的白宫舞厅来举办国宴？为什么不直接在芝士蛋糕工厂举办那些盛大的活动呢？
But this latest partisan debate made me wonder. Why spend $600 million or more to build a new White House ballroom to host state dinners? Why not just host those esteemed events instead at the Cheesecake Factory?
据我了解，参加国宴时，你得硬着头皮吞下服务员塞到你嘴边的任何黄色南瓜浓汤或蚕豆炖菜。但美国不就是讲究自由、选择和琳琅满目的选项吗？
Come to a state dinner, I've been told, and you kind of have to gulp down whatever yellow squash velouté or fricassée of fava beans a server slides under your chin. But isn't America all about freedom, choice and options galore?
芝士蛋糕工厂餐厅的菜单上有250多道菜品。这才是美国！鸡肉华夫饼串！德州墨西哥风味春卷！
Cheesecake Factory restaurants have more than 250 items on their menus. Now that's America! Chicken and Waffle Skewers! Tex-Mex Eggrolls!
泡菜薯条 什么更能代表美国？是今年春天在国宴上招待查尔斯三世国王的黄油煎多佛鳎鱼，配土豆砖、春葱、荷兰豆和欧芹油？还是芝士蛋糕工厂的水牛城炸鸡卷：鸡肉、芝士和辣酱塞进辛辣的饺子皮里，油炸后配上芹菜条和蓝纹芝士酱？
Pickle Fries What says America more? The Dover Sole Meunière, served with Potato Pavé, Spring Ramps, Snow Peas, and Parsley Oil served to King Charles III at a state dinner this spring? Or the Cheesecake Factory's Buffalo Blasts: chicken, cheese and hot sauce stuffed into a spicy wrapper, deep-fried, and served with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing?
“我吃得太饱了，”我想象陛下说道。“1814年的英军绝不会烧毁一家芝士蛋糕工厂！”
"I'm absolutely stuffed," I imagine His Majesty saying. "British troops in 1814 would never have burned down a Cheesecake Factory!"
2018年，法国总统埃马纽埃尔·马克龙在白宫接受国宴，开胃菜是山羊奶酪蛋糕。我敢打赌，无论法国官员去哪里访问，东道主都会把山羊奶酪蛋糕端到他们面前，说：“您会爱上的！太法式了！”
When French President Emmanuel Macron received a state dinner at the White House in 2018, it opened with a Goat Cheese Gateau. I'd bet that wherever French officials travel, hosts push a Goat Cheese Gateau in front of them, saying, "You'll love it! So French!"
所以我可以想象一位法国总统会说：“别端蛋糕了！我要亚洲风味鸡肉玉米片！云吞片、花生酱和芝士火锅？太棒了！”
So I can imagine a French president saying, "Forget the gateau! I want Asian Chicken Nachos! Wonton chips, peanut sauce and fromage fondu?
把国宴搬到芝士蛋糕工厂，外国元首甚至可能会说：“给我来盘炸通心粉芝士球，我就签你们想要的任何关税协定！”
Le yum!" Move state dinners to a Cheesecake Factory, and foreign heads of state might even say, "Give me that plate of Fried Macaroni and Cheese balls, and I'll sign any tariff agreement you want!"