Tuesday, December 18th

A. What in the 'world' are we eating around the world?

Read the following article and we'll discuss the findings: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/what-the-world-really-eats-164218501.html


B.Food and Restaurant Vocabulary

Vocabulary part of speech		Meaning	Example sentence
à la carte adjective		without a side dish	Is it possible to get the steak à la carte? I don't eat potatoes.
all you can eat adjective		customers pay one fee and can eat as much as they wish	These are all you can eat fries, so let me know if you want more.
appetizer noun		small snack before a meal	Would you like some garlic bread or another appetizer to start?
awful (taste) adjective		very bad taste	The customer said that her pasta was awful.
bartender noun		staff member that mixes, pours, and serves alcoholic beverages	I do part-time work as a bartender in a local pub.
beverage noun		drink	Can I bring you some beverages while you look at the menus?
bill, check noun		the slip of paper that tells the customer how much to pay	Table 3 would like you to bring them their check.
black coffee adjective + noun		coffee without any milk	Should I bring some cream, or do you take your coffee black?
boil verb		style of cooking that involves placing food in a deep pot of extremely hot water	We usually boil the potatoes first so that they will cook faster.
booth/bench noun		type of seating in which people sit side by side on a cushioned area	We'd prefer a booth if you have one available.
booze noun(idiom)		alcohol	You've been into the booze already, haven't you?
bottle opener noun		a device used for opening beer bottles that don't twist off	All of the servers keep bottle openers on their keychains.
burnt adjective		overcooked to the point of turning black	The toast is burnt around the edges.
busboy, busser noun		a person who helps out in a restaurant (especially clearing and setting tables)	Ask the busboy to help you bring out all of the food.
cash noun		paper money payment	I don't have any cash. Do you accept Visa?
charge verb		to add a fee	I will have to charge you an extra dollar to add ice cream.
clear verb		remove finished or unused items from a table	You need to clear this table and set it for four.
cocktail noun		an alcoholic drink with juice	Would anyone care for a cocktail on this warm sunny day?
coffee maker noun		machine that dispenses coffee into a glass container for pouring	You need to teach the new waitress how to operate the coffee maker.
combo, combination noun		mixture	The combo platter has veggies, ribs, and chicken fingers.
complaint noun		a problem with service or food	The guest brought his complaint to the manager.
condiments noun		types of sauces that are added for flavouring (i.e. mustard)	All of the condiments you should need are on the table.
cook verb/noun		prepare and heat food until it is ready to serve	The guest says that this chicken isn't cooked enough.
corkscrew noun		tool for removing the cork from the top of a wine bottle.	You will need to learn how to work a corkscrew before you start bartending.
counter noun		flat area often used for placing dishes on or preparing food	I left one of the salads on the kitchen counter by mistake.
coupon noun		a slip of paper that offers the customers a discounted rate	Your coupon is only valid for food, not for alcoholic drinks.
complimentary adjective		free of charge	The desserts are complimentary because the dinner took so long.
creamer noun		small plastic container of cream for coffee	Will you need more than two creamers for your coffee?
credit card noun		a plastic card that allows people to pay for something later	You forgot to sign your credit card slip.
customer, guest noun		person who goes to an establishment to be served	It is our policy that the customer is always right.
customer service noun		treatment of guests	Our restaurant got the award for having the best customer service this year.
cutlery, silverware, utensils noun		tools for eating with (fork, knife, spoon)	In a fine dining restaurant the staff has to polish the silverware.
cut off verb		stop serving a customer any more alcohol	I cut off the man with the beard because he'd had too much to drink.
debit noun		use bank card to pay directly from bank account	Can we pay by debit here, or do you only take credit cards?
deep fried adjective		cooked in a large pot of oil	Most of the appetizers on our menu are deep fried.
defrost, thaw verb		remove frozen food from the freezer to prepare	Don't forget to defrost some pies for tomorrow.
delicious adjective		very good taste	The cookies were so delicious they were gone in half an hour.
delivery noun		food brought to the home	Do you have delivery or do we have to come in to eat?
designated driver adjective + noun		person in a party who agrees not to consume alcohol in order to drive everyone home safely	Is there a designated driver in your party or are you taking a taxi?
dessert noun		sweet treat after a meal	I think we're too full to have dessert tonight.
dessert tray noun		a plate of all of the desserts that customers can view and order from	I'll bring the dessert tray around and see if I can tempt any of you with a slice of cake or pie.
dirty dishes adjective + noun		plates that customers are finished with	I'll just clear these dirty dishes and make some room for you.
discount noun		at a cheaper cost	We got a discount because we are regular customers.
dishwasher noun		the staff member/machine that washes the dirty dishes	Can you bring the dishwasher these pans to clean?
doggie bag noun		unfinished food that is packed up for the customer to take home	I can't finish my steak, but I'll take a doggie bag.
draft noun		beer from a keg that pours out of a tap	We have a selection of local beers on draft.
dressing noun		liquid topping for salads	Would you like Italian or French dressing?
dry adjective		no sauce	I'll have dry toast with two eggs.
entrée, main course noun		the largest part of a meal (after appetizer, before dessert)	The entrées are after the lunch specials on page 6 of the menu.
fast-food noun		an eatery that offers quick inexpensive food	We don't provide table service. This is a fast-food restaurant.
free refills adjective + noun		beverages that can be filled again without any cost	Have all of the soda you want; it's free refills here.
fry verb		cook over an element in oil	Don't fry the vegetables too long or they will go soggy.
garnish noun/verb		food that is added to a plate for appearance or colour(i.e. parsley or fruit)	Don't forget to garnish all of the entrees that go out.
glassware noun		group of drinking glasses	Make sure the glassware doesn't have any spots before you put it away.
gloves (plastic) noun		covering for the hands to prevent the spread of germs	Whenever you are handling food make sure you are wearing gloves.
gratuity/tip noun		extra money given as a thank you for service	When we have a large party we're allowed to add a 15% gratuity to the bill.
greet verb		say hello and welcome customers to the establishment	Your priority as a hostess is to greet the guests at the door with a smile.
grill noun/verb		cooking over iron slats that allow for oil and fat to drop down	The healthiest way to prepare meat is on a grill.
happy hour noun		short amount of time when alcoholic drinks are on sale	We're expecting a rush because it's almost happy hour.
highchair noun		a tall chair with a plastic tray designed for a baby	The party is for ten plus a highchair.
hold verb		leave off/without	I'll take a hamburger, hold the bun.
homemade adjective		made from a recipe	We serve the best homemade soup in town.
host, hostess noun		staff member in charge of greeting and seating customers in a restaurant	Please wait and the hostess will seat you.
ingredients noun		all of the different foods that are combined in a recipe	I'll check the ingredients to make sure there aren't any nuts.
kettle noun		pot for boiling water for tea	I'll put the kettle on and make some fresh tea.
last call noun		the last chance for a person to get an alcoholic drink before the establishment closes	We'll have two more screwdrivers for last call.
lemon, lime wedge noun		a small segment of lemon or lime put on the rim of a glass	I'd like a lemon wedge for my ice water please.
make change verb + noun		give customers money back from a payment	We can make change if all you have is large notes.
manager noun/adjective		person in charge of a section of a restaurant	I'd like to speak to the floor manager about the service.
melt verb		warm to soften (i.e. cheese/butter)	First, melt two tablespoons of butter in the microwave.
menu noun		a booklet of all of the food that can be ordered	Do you have a children's menu we could see?
microwave noun		a small appliance that heats and cooks food quickly	We can heat your dinner in the microwave if you like.
mild adjective		not spicy	I'd like a half dozen mild chicken wings.
nightclub noun		establishment where adults go to dance and drink alcoholic beverages	If you work at the nightclub you will have to stay until 2 AM.
non alcoholic beverage adjective + noun		a drink that resembles a certain drink without the alcohol	Can I order a non alcoholic beer?
notepad noun		paper that a server uses to write down orders	Just let me grab my notepad and I'll take your order.
on the rocks preposition + noun		on ice	I'll take a whiskey on the rocks.
on the side preposition + noun		request for a food item to NOT be put on top of another food item	For the nachos, can we have the sour cream on the side?
order verb/noun		make a request to a server	Is everyone ready to order lunch now?
over charge verb		give a customer a bill that is too high (by mistake)	I think you over charged us for our drinks; we only had one each.
pack up verb		put in a take-out container for the customer to bring home	Would you like me to pack up the rest of that pizza?
party noun		group of people at or waiting for a table	A party of twelve just walked in without a reservation.
patio noun		outdoor seating	We closed the patio because it looks like it's going to rain.
pitcher, jug noun		a container with a spout to pour water, beer, or other beverages out of	We'll take a pitcher of beer with four glasses.
portion noun/verb		a separate amount of food	The chicken fingers are already portioned in the freezer.
pour verb		dispense liquid from a container	Can I pour you folks another glass of water?
prepare verb		get food ready	The servers have to prepare the salads themselves.
pub noun		establishment that specializes in casual food and alcoholic beverages	I can wear whatever I want when I work at the pub.
rare adjective		cooked meat that is pink inside	This steak is too rare for me to eat.
recipe noun		list of ingredients and instructions for preparing a certain type of food	Our chef is so talented that he almost never bothers with a recipe.
regulars noun		people who come into an establishment often	You can give the regulars a complimentary drink from time to time.
reservation noun		a request to have a table saved for a certain amount of people	We don't take any reservations; it's first come first served here.
restrooms noun		place for people to use a toilet and wash hands	The restrooms are to your left and down the stairs.
rush noun		a large amount of customers arriving at the same time	We always have a rush after church on Sundays.
rush noun/verb		prepare quickly for a certain reason	Can you put a rush on this spaghetti; I forgot to punch it in.
sauce noun		liquid flavouring added to food	What kind of sauce would you like on your ice cream, butterscotch or chocolate?
schedule noun/verb		a notice of the time and date each staff member has to work in a certain period of time	If you want to book off a day, let me know before I make the schedule.
seasoning noun		dry flavouring added to food	He wants the chicken plain without any seasoning.
self-serve adjective		the customers bring their own food items to the table and do not pay for service	We have a buffet on, so it's self-serve for lunch.
serve verb		look after a customer, bring items to a customer	Is there someone in charge of serving out on the patio?
set verb		get a table ready with items such as cutlery and glassware	I need you to clear and set table five for a party of eight.
shade noun		place outside that is not in the sun	We'd like to sit on the patio if there is any shade.
shot noun		one ounce of alcohol served in a small glass (shot glass)	Let's do a shot to get this party started.
shooter noun		an ounce of alcohol and juice combined	Is there a shooter that has orange juice in it?
side dish noun		choice of food that goes with a main meal	The two side dishes are mashed potatoes or french fries.
sour adjective		acid or fermented taste	I think the milk has gone sour from sitting out of the fridge too long.
specials noun		items that were prepared particularly for a certain day and are usually at a reduced price	Would you like to hear the specials before you decide on lunch.
specialty noun		food item that a restaurant is popular for	Homemade fish and chips is our specialty.
spicy adjective		hot flavour	Any item with three chilies beside it means that the dish is very spicy.
stay verb		to eat in the restaurant	Are these coffees to go or to stay.
stir, mix verb		spin round and round with a spoon	Stir the soup for a few minutes before you serve it.
straw noun		long hollow plastic stick for drinking out of	Can I please get a straw for my ice tea?
straight up adjective		alcoholic drink without any mix or ice	He always has a straight up glass of rum after his meal.
substitute verb		replace one item for another	Can I substitute the carrots for corn?
sweet adjective		taste with a lot of sugar	If you like sweet things, you'll love our chocolate cheesecake.
take-out adjective/verb		food that is packed up and eaten at home	You can either eat in or order food to take-out.
terminal noun		computer system for punching in food orders	There's one terminal in the kitchen and one on the bar.
till noun		drawer of a cash register that money is kept in	You need a key to open the till and make change.
to go verb		to take out of the restaurant	We're just going to order a pizza to go.
toppings noun		food items that go on top of other food items to add flavour	What type of toppings would you like to have on your pizza?
uniform noun		clothing that staff members have to wear	The uniform here is black pants and a white shirt.
waiter, waitress noun		staff member in charge of taking orders and serving food and beverages	When I got promoted from a hostess to a waitress I started making tips.
waiting list noun		list of groups who want a table to eat at	We have a twenty minute waiting list tonight.
warm up verb		heat food to an enjoyable temperature for eating	Would you mind warming up the baby's bottle for me?
well- done adjective		cooked for longer than average	The meat was so well-done it had no flavour.
wine list noun		a menu of all of the wine you can order from the glass or bottle	You will notice that we have a lot of local wine on our wine list.
winery noun		a place where wine is made, tasted, and sold	There is another winery up the hill that you might enjoy stopping at.
wine tasting adjective		sampling different types of wine	If you are interested in trying some wines you should go on a wine tasting tour.

B. English Cooking Verbs

(to) fry - to cook in oil, usually on the top of the oven.
(to) bake - to cook in the oven
(to) stir - to move the ingredients with a spoon.
(to) boil - to cook in hot water on the top of the oven.
(to) pour - to move a liquid from one container to another.
(to) mix - to combine ingredients together.
(to) chop - to cut with a knife.
(to) drain - to remove all the water.
(to) season - to add salt and pepper or extra flavour.
(to) peel - to take the skin from something.

• 1. ___ the carrot into small circles.
  
  Stir
  Chop
  Drain 
• 2. ___ the lasagne for 30 minutes in the oven.
  
  Bake
  Boil 
  Mix
• 3. After ten minutes, ___ the pasta until there is no water left. Then place the pasta into a large bowl.
  
  fry 
  drain
  boil
• 4. ___ the onion and throw away the skin.
  
  Peel
  Fry 
  Stir
• 5. ___ the steak with salt, pepper and lemon.
  
  Season
  Drain
  Chop 
• 6. ___ the onion until it is soft, but not brown.
  
  Pour
  Bake 
  Fry
• 7. Constantly ___ the mixture using a wooden spoon.
  
  boil 
  stir
  fry
• 8. When the mixture looks shiny, ___ it into individual ramekin dishes.
  
  chop
  fry 
  pour
• 9. When you have finished preparing the vegetables, ___ them together with your hands.
  
  mix
  chop
  pour 
• 10. ___the pasta for ten minutes, or until soft.
  
  Boil
  Bake
  Fry 

C.  Test your knowledge: Crossword puzzle about Food

Food for Thought

Across1. a thick, white, semisolid food made from milk or cream, used in cooking, esp. in soups, sauces, and on baked potatoes 4. a dish with upward curved sides 5. any of a variety of water birds with short, plump bodies, rounded beaks, and webbed feet 9. a large, green, oval-shaped fruit with a sweet, juicy, pink interior 12. a fish with reddish-pink flesh 13. a V-shaped tool used to hold and lift things 14. small, roundish bread 17. a Mexican bread of corn meal made in a thin layer and cooked on a grill 18. a round melon with rough skin and sweet, light-orange insides 21. a shallow pan with a handle used for frying food 22. a soft, white, smooth cheese made of milk and cream 26. a small, round, green seed that grows in long pods and is eaten as a vegetable 27. a round section of seasoned meat 29. grain, like wheat and oats, or food made of it 30. a green plant with long stems that are cooked and eaten 32. a large spoon used for measuring and eating food 34. to let flow, make s.t. stream out 35. a spoon holding approx. 1/3 of a tablespoon or 1/4 fluid ounce 36. a grain of the cereal grass family of ancient origin that is used for food and grows in watery areas 38. a small green citrus fruit 39. a tropical plant with a fruit that is brown and rough on the outside and has a sweet, yellow, juicy flesh on the inside