Voyage with Words: Mastering Travel English in 30 Days – Day 5
Are you feeling hungry? Today we dive into the delicious world of dining out. As we continue our journey through mastering travel English, understanding the vocabulary related to eating out is essential for any traveller. Whether you’re ordering a meal in a bustling city café or asking for the bill in a quaint countryside restaurant, today’s lesson will ensure you do so with confidence.
Vocabulary List:
- Restaurant (ˈrɛstrɒnt) – A place where meals are prepared and served to customers.
- Example: We found a cozy restaurant that serves traditional Italian food.
- Menu (ˈmɛnjuː) – A list of dishes available for order at a restaurant.
- Example: The menu offers a wide range of vegetarian options.
- Order (ˈɔːrdər) – To request food or drink from the menu in a restaurant.
- Example: I’d like to order the grilled salmon, please.
- Bill (bɪl) – The total amount of money owed for the meal served in a restaurant.
- Example: Could we have the bill, please?
- Tip (tɪp) – A small amount of money given to restaurant staff for their service, over the bill amount.
- Example: It’s customary to leave a 15% tip.
- Reservation (ˌrɛzərˈveɪʃən) – An arrangement to secure a table at a restaurant at a specific time.
- Example: I made a reservation for two at 7 PM.
- Starter (ˈstɑːrtər) – The first course of a meal, also known as an appetizer.
- Example: For my starter, I’ll have the soup of the day.
- Main Course (meɪn kɔːs) – The principal dish of a meal.
- Example: Steak is a popular main course.
- Dessert (dɪˈzɜːrt) – A sweet course served at the end of a meal.
- Example: Is there room for dessert? The chocolate cake looks divine.
- Vegetarian (ˌvɛdʒɪˈtɛəriən) – Related to or denoting food that does not contain meat or fish.
- Example: I’m vegetarian; could you recommend a dish?
- Vegan (ˈviːɡən) – A diet that excludes all animal products.
- Example: Do you have any vegan options on the menu?
- Chef’s Special (ʃɛfs ˈspɛʃəl) – A unique dish prepared by the chef, not always listed on the standard menu.
- Example: Tonight’s chef’s special is grilled seabass with a lemon butter sauce.
- Buffet (ˈbʊfeɪ) – A meal where people serve themselves from a variety of dishes set out on a table or sideboard.
- Example: The hotel offers a breakfast buffet with many choices.
- To-go (tə ˈɡoʊ) – An American term for takeaway food.
- Example: Could I get that coffee to-go, please?
Sample Conversation:
Emily: Excuse me, could we see the menu?
Waiter: Of course, here you are. Would you like to hear the chef’s special?
Emily: Yes, please.
Waiter: Today, we have roasted lamb with rosemary.
Alex: Sounds delicious, I’ll have that. And for a starter, the Caesar salad.
Emily: I’m vegetarian. Do you recommend anything?
Waiter: The quinoa salad is very popular among our vegetarian guests.
Emily: Great, I’ll try that. And for the main course, the mushroom risotto.
Cultural Tips:
When dining out, especially in a foreign country, it’s important to be aware of local dining etiquette. For example, in Japan, it’s considered polite to say “itadakimasu” before eating, which means “I gratefully receive.”
In the Philippines, to get the bill, it is common to use the phrase “bill out,” and to draw in the air two halves of a rectangle with the index finger and thumb of each hand.
Up next on the menu, we will explore the world of shopping – an activity that combines language learning with the joy of discovering local products and souvenirs.
Happy dining, and may your meals be as enriching to your language journey as they are to your palate!
But wait! Before you leave…
Tell us about the best or worst dining experience you’ve ever had in the comments below. Of course, also test your knowledge with today’s quiz!
#1. What do you call the first course of a meal?
#2. What term describes food that does not contain meat or fish?
#3. How do you know if someone’s a vegan?
#4. What is a diet that excludes all animal products known as _____?
#5. A meal where people serve themselves from various dishes is called a ________?
#6. What is the term for a list of dishes available to order?
#7. The principal dish of a meal is known as the _____?
#8. If you want to secure a table at a specific time, you make a _____?
#9. What term is used for takeaway food in American English?
#10. What is a unique dish prepared by the chef called?
#11. The total amount of money owed for the meal is referred to as the _____?
Results
Thank you for the positive feedback!