自助餐，有時亦稱冷餐會，起源于8世紀北歐斯堪的納維亞半島的海盜，它是目前國際上所通行的一種非正式的西式宴會，在大型的商務(wù)活動中尤為多見。在國外，請同學吃自助餐也不失為一個聯(lián)絡(luò)感情的好方法。

　　Head-waiter: Good evening, sir.

　　Henry: Good evening. We’d like a table for four, please.

　　Head-waiter: Do you have a reservation, sir?

　　Henry: No, I’m afraid not. Can we sit over there? There’s a table free by the window.

　　Head-waiter: Sorry, sir. That table has been reserved. Come this way, please. How about this one, sir?

　　Henry: Fine. We’ll sit here.

　　Head-waiter: Would you like some drinks?

　　Henry: What would you like to drink, Stella?

　　Stella: I don’t know anything about drinks. I’ll drink whatever you order for me.

　　Henry: All right. Give us a bottle of red wine and a bottle of white wine.

　　Head-waiter: Very well, sir. Stella: Why did you order two bottles?

　　Henry: I know that you never eat steaks or pork, so I ordered the white wine for you. The red wine is for myself. I love steak. Stella: I see. Do we help ourselves?

　　Henry: Yes, it’s self-service here. Stella: I hope they have good shrimp or crab here.

　　Henry: They have the best sea food in this city. You can eat your head off. It’s on me.