F2F Class Notes (Nick)

Continue talking about restaurant, food, and shopping vocabulary and phrases.

Write a restaurant dialogue, like you were there!

Vocabulary

Plant vs. Planet – something that grows outside; a large rock in space, like the Earth, usually going around a star
e.g. I love going to the park to see the plants.
e.g. We can only live on one planet, so far.

Herb – a plant used for medicine, to give flavor to other foods, or because it smells nice
Vegetable – a plant you eat directly
e.g.

Carrot -　胡萝卜

Tomato -　西红柿

Broccoli -　西兰花

Grain – a plant where you eat the seeds, often in porridge 粥 or bread，粮食

Recipe – directions for cooking something
e.g. If you follow my Grandma’s recipe, it will surely be tasty!

Beet – 甜菜

I turn as red as a beet – to be very embarassed
e.g. I accidentally dropped some juice on my friend, and I turned as red as a beet!

Appetizer – something light, small, which we say is supposed to make you hungry; something that tastes good so that you want more
e.g. I would like the House Salad as my appetizer. (the “house” salad is made from a recipe the restaurant wrote themselves)

Utensil – an eating or cooking tool; bowls, plates, chopsticks, forks, knives, spoons . . .

Restaurant phrases:

For how many? For [number]
Right this way! (follow me)
Please, take a seat.

DON’T use “come,” or “give me,” and sometimes even “I want” can be rude. Instead:
I would like . . .  – when the waiter asks what you want
Could I get . . . – when the waiter asks, or to get their attention
Please/Could you bring me . . . – usually to add something extra, like salt, another fork, an extra napkin, etc.
— All three of these work for food, for drinks, for utensils.

To pay:
May I have the bill, (please)?
Could you bring me the bill?
Could I get the bill?
— But, in the US they usually bring it at the end.

Tips! In the US, a 15-20% tip is common (in fact, required).

Pronunciation

Recipe – re – si – pee