Unit 21 Food

A. Talking about flavours and tastes

hot, sp_____ (e.g. curry) ≠ m_____

hot, spicy (e.g. curry) ≠ mild

bl_____ (= very little flavour; rather negative)

bland (= very little flavour; rather negative)

s_____ (= a lot of salt)

salty (= a lot of salt)

su_____ (= a lot of sugar)

si_____ (= too much sugar)

sugary (= a lot of sugar)

sickly (= too much sugar)

sa_____ (= pleasant, slightly salty or with herbs)

savoury (= pleasant, slightly salty or with herbs)

s_____ (= sharp, often unpleasantl taste, like a lemon, and not sweet)

sour (= sharp, often unpleasantl taste, like a lemon, and not sweet)

b_____ (= with an unpleasantly sharp taste)

bitter (= with an unpleasantly sharp taste)

ta_____ (= has a good taste, flavour)

≠

ta_____ (= no flavour at all)

tasty (= has a good taste, flavour)

≠

tasteless (= no flavour at all)

m_____ (= having a pleasant taste, so you want to eat more)

moreish (= having a pleasant taste, so you want to eat more)

I love sp_____ food, especially curries – the h_____ the better! My sister prefers m_____ curries.

I love spicy food, especially curries – the hotter the better! My sister prefers mild curries.

Those cakes are too su_____ for me. They have a si_____ taste.

Those cakes are too sugary for me. They have a sickly taste.

They had some delicious sa_____ snacks at the party. They were very mor_____.

They had some delicious savoury snacks at the party. They were very moreish.

The breakfast buffet was very poor quality : the coffee tasted bi_____ and the fruit juice was sou_____.

The breakfast buffet was very poor quality : the coffee tasted bitter and the fruit juice was sour.

The food on the plane was bl_____ and tas_____ - it was like eating cardboard)

The food on the plane was bland and tasteless - it was like eating cardboard)

•B. Appearance, presentation and quality of food

• This meat is overc_____/overd_____; underc_____/underd_____.

• This meat is overcooked/overdone; undercooked/underdone.

I’m afraid this mango is a but unr_____. (= not ready to eat; opp = r_____)

They’re not really in sea_____ at the moment. (= being produced and ready and available).

I’m afraid this mango is a but unripe. (= not ready to eat; opp = ripe)

They’re not really in season at the moment. (= being produced and ready and available).

This butter has g_____ o_____. I think we should throw it out. (= not good to eat because it is too old)

This butter has gone off. I think we should throw it out. (= not good to eat because it is too old)

I don’t feel like anything h_____. I just want something l_____; a salad would be fine.

British cooking can be very sto_____. (= heavy, hard to digest)

I don’t feel like anything heavy. I just want something light; a salad would be fine.

British cooking can be very stodgy. (= heavy, hard to digest)

I don’t feel like anything heavy. I just want something light; a salad would be fine.

British cooking can be very stodgy. (= heavy, hard to digest)

Julia will only buy ____ fruit and vegetables. (= grown without artificial chemicals)

Julia will only buy organic fruit and vegetables. (= grown without artificial chemicals)

We should try to have a bal_____ d_____, without too much or too little of any particular thing. A diet of j_____ food can cause long-term health problems. (= food that is unhealthy but easy and quick to eat).

Pr_____ food in general is not good for you. (= that has been treated with chemicals to preserve it or give it extra colour or taste)

We should try to have a balanced diet, without too much or too little of any particular thing. A diet of junk food can cause long-term health problems. (= food that is unhealthy but easy and quick to eat).

Processed food in general is not good for you. (= that has been treated with chemicals to preserve it or give it extra colour or taste)

•C. Eating out

At most restaurants, you usually have to b_____ a table/make a r_____ beforehand. If something happens, or you are ill, you may need to c_____ the b_____/r_____.

At most restaurants, you usually have to book a table/make a reservation beforehand. If something happens, or you are ill, you may need to cancel the booking/reservation.

In the UK a meal in a restaurant is typically three cou_____ : a st_____ (= light snack/appetiser), a m_____ c_____, then a de_____. You can often order si_____ di_____ (= a smaller dish alongside the main course e.g. an extra vegetable)

In the UK a meal in a restaurant is typically three courses : a starter (= light snack/appetiser), a main course, then a dessert. You can often order side dishes (= a smaller dish alongside the main course e.g. an extra vegetable)

Some restaurants may have a s_____ m_____ (= a selection of dishes at a fixed price) or you can order inividual dishes (called ordering à-la-carte). Restaurants often have sp_____ (= dishes only available on that day) advertised on a board.

Some restaurants may have a set menu (= a selection of dishes at a fixed price) or you can order inividual dishes (called ordering à-la-carte). Restaurants often have specials (= dishes only available on that day) advertised on a board.

They often cater for vegetarians, non-m_____-eaters (= people who don’t eat meat but who are not vegetarians) and ve_____ (= people wo don’t eat or use anu animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese or leather)

They often cater for vegetarians, non-meat-eaters (= people who don’t eat meat but who are not vegetarians) and vegans (= people wo don’t eat or use anu animal products, such as meat, fish, eggs, cheese or leather)

•D. Eating at home

Host : Right, there’s more soup. Who wants s_____s? (= a second serving of something)Guest : Oy, yes, please. It was absolutely del_____.Host : There’s bread here. Just h_____ y_____ (= serve yourself).

Guest : Thanks

Host : Right, there’s more soup. Who wants seconds? (= a second serving of something)Guest : Oy, yes, please. It was absolutely delicious.Host : There’s bread here. Just help yourself (= serve yourself).

Guest : Thanks

Host : Be sure to keep a bit of room for some p_____ (= desserts are often called p____ (uncountable), a sw_____ (countable) or aft_____ (plural) at home)) Can I re-f_____ your glass?

Guest : Ah, yes, thank you.

Host : S_____ wh_____.

Guest : Wh_____! That’s fine. Thanks.

Host : Be sure to keep a bit of room for some pudding (= desserts are often called pudding (uncountable), a sweet (countable) or afters (plural) at home)) Can I re-fill your glass?

Guest : Ah, yes, thank you.

Host : Say when.

Guest : When! That’s fine. Thanks.