【明報專訊】When it comes to meat we always think of beef, pork and chicken. However, people around the world eats various animals that thrives in their homeland.

◆Menu A

France - Snail (Escargot)

In the world of food and delicacies, French cuisine is always considered to be high class. However, one of its most popular dishes is made with one of the lowliest animals - snails. Edible snails are farmed and cleaned in France, and they can taste very differently in various regions. Some are grilled directly, some are stuffed with garlic butter while others come in a beautifully presented pastry puff. (photo.1)

◆Menu B

South Africa - Antelope

Some think that antelopes (羚羊) are similar to goats or deers. This is a wrong idea as it is a large group of animals that includes many species. In South Africa, where most species of antelopes are found, people hunt them not only for their skin but also for their meat.

◆Menu C

Japan - Pufferfish

The pufferfish, or fugu(河豚) in Japanese, is well known among tourists and Japanese locals. While many foreigners try having the dish as a life-risking challenge, it is actually safe to eat pufferfish because chefs who process and handle pufferfish have been trained for years to remove the poisonous glands and chefs without training and license cannot sell pufferfish in Japan. The cooking and drying processes also ensure that the toxins are removed from the fish when it is served.

■English highway﹕However

We use the adverb ''however'' to bridge two sentences of contrasting ideas. It is used at the beginning of a sentence.

e.g. Chocolate is delicious. However, we should not eat too much of it.

Gear Up

Determine whether the sentences below are true or false.

1. Pufferfish chefs are trained for 2-3 months before they can prepare the dish. (T / F)

2. People catch their own escargot for cooking.(T /F)

3. Hunters hunt antelopes for their skin and meat. (T / F)

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

edible (adj) 可食用的

delicacy (n) 佳餚

poisonous (adj) 有毒的

license (n) 許可證

[Smarties' Power English 第269期]