Page 114 - BACKUP ENGLISH | PREPARATORY CLASS

THEME 9 PARTY

Culture Corner

When you order a meal in a different country, you can see how different cultural practices and food habits affect the eating
experience. Let's take a look at how to order food in a few different countries.
Japan: Going out to eat is an art in Japan. When people walk into a traditional
restaurant, they are greeted with "Irasshaimase!", which means "Welcome!" Then
they sit down, and waiters bring them a menu or a picture board with meals on it.
Customers can choose their food and pay for it ahead of time at some places by using
a ticket machine. Once the order is made, it is generally sent to the cook through a
small window or a computer. In more expensive restaurants, customers may choose
omakase, where the cook makes all of the decisions.

France: The food in France is sophisticated and elegant. In France, a meal usually
starts with the server saying hello and bringing plates. The waiter often makes ideas
based on the day's specials or what the customer likes. People usually order in
French, using words like "S'il vous plait" and "Merci" to be polite. The meal is served
in stages, starting with the appetisers and going on to the main course, cheese,
and then dessert. The host stays out of the way during the meal and makes sure
everything runs smoothly.

Thailand: Thai food smells and tastes spicy and has strong flavours. When people order
food in Thailand, they usually get a variety of meals that taste sweet, sour, spicy, and
salty in different ways. People can usually choose from a wide range of ready-to-eat
meals in casual restaurants and food stands. These dishes are usually displayed in glass
cabinets or on tables. They can either point to the food they want or ask "Nee ao?" in
Thai, which means "Can I have this?" Customers can also tell the server directly what
they want in a more official setting, and the server will then tell the cook.

India: India has a lot of different kinds of food. Most Indian menus have a variety
of vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes, as well as bread and rice dishes. Most of
the time, customers are offered menus or have the service walk them through the
options. Indian food also has the idea of thali, which is a big plate with a variety of
recipes like curries, lentils, rice, bread, yoghurt, and desserts. Also, Indian food is
known for having a lot of spices, and customers can change how hot their food is to
their liking.
People from different places and cultures order food in different ways and for different reasons. By following these different ways of eating,
we can learn about the food history of each country and understand the different ways people around the world eat and enjoy food.
WRITING
Write a short paragraph by following the guideline below.
Imagine that you are travelling to one of these countries and want to eat out in a restaurant.

Which country would you choose?

Write a dialogue about ordering your meal.

TONGUE TWISTER
Read the tongue twister and practise saying it as fast as possible.

A flea and a fly in a flue Said the fly “Let us flee”
Said the fly “Oh what should we do” So they flew through a flaw in the flue.
Said the flea” Let us fly

112 English for Preparatory Class