Weather Warm-Up
- It will soon be very hot for the rest of the summer, so we must get used to it.
- Next week, the temperature will go up and down. Some days will be sunny, others will have rain.
Reviewing Vocabulary: Ordering a Meal
In Class Today: We will review food vocabulary and practice ordering a meal in a restaurant.
Eating Habits:
- Many people got used to eating at home during COVID.
- It can be hard to find food that tastes exactly the way you like when dining out.
Steak Preferences:
- How do you like your steak?
- Medium well
- Medium
- Rare
- Well done
Food Vocabulary Practice:
- Steak: rare, medium, well done
- Potato: baked potato, mashed potato
- Fish: fresh fish, baked fish
- Meats: baked duck, pork, chicken, roast lamb, roast beef
- Special cooking styles: barbecue, pot roast
Vegetarian Options:
- Vegetarian special = no meat
- Monks in many Asian cultures (China, India) prefer vegetarian food (no meat, no eggs, no milk).
- Greek Orthodox monks also follow strict vegetarian fasting diets.
Seafood:
- Oysters can be served raw or baked (with breadcrumbs, garlic butter, or hot sauce).
- Escargot (snails): Famous in France and some parts of China, served with a small fork or toothpick.
- Crawfish (like mini lobsters): Often eaten by sucking the meat from the shell.
Daily Specials:
- Fish of the day
- Soup of the day (e.g., mushroom soup)
Steak Types:
- T-bone: tender, grilled quickly
- Rump steak or pot roast: tougher, needs long cooking
Ordering and Substitutions
Common Questions at a Restaurant:
- What does it come with?
- Could I substitute [rice] for [potatoes]?
- Could I have [tomatoes] instead of [mashed potatoes]?
- Can I change the side dish?
Useful Substitution Phrases:
- Can I get ____ instead of ____?
- Could I order ____ instead?
- Could I substitute ____ for ____?
- Could I swap ____ for ____?
- Can I change the ____ to ____?
Sides and Dressings:
- Common side dishes: mashed potatoes, brown rice, corn, mushrooms, beans, French fries
- Salads: Caesar salad, dressing options (ranch is most popular)
- Gravy: Mushroom gravy can be requested on the side
Polite Questions:
- What do you recommend?
- What are your top three dishes?
- What is your signature dish?
Common Signature Dishes:
- Italian: spicy shrimp with pasta, crayfish spaghetti
- Southern U.S.: Crayfish with sausage, spicy seasoning
Drinks and Water Options:
- “And to drink?”
- Common responses: water, Coca-Cola, white wine
- In some restaurants: “Con gas” (with bubbles), “sin gas” (still, no bubbles)
- “Could you provide a glass of hot water for me?”
Vocabulary:
- carbonated = bubbly water
- still = plain, no bubbles
Plan for Next Week:
- We will continue this topic with more food vocabulary and practice.
- Student requested two lessons next week at the same time.
Advanced Vocabulary from the Lesson
Tender (TEN-der) – soft and easy to chew
Substitute (SUB-sti-tute) – to replace one thing with another
Vegetarian (vej-uh-TAIR-ee-an) – someone who does not eat meat
Gravy (GRAY-vee) – a sauce made from meat juices
Escargot (es-kar-GO) – snails served as food
Crayfish (KRAY-fish) – small freshwater shellfish, like mini lobsters
Signature dish (SIG-nuh-chur dish) – a meal a restaurant is famous for
Carbonated (CAR-bun-ay-ted) – fizzy, bubbly (like soda)
Still water (STILL WAH-ter) – water with no bubbles
Fasting (FAST-ing) – not eating certain foods for religious reasons
