TeachingEnglish | Lesson plans Cooking in Britain Today

Worksheet A Brainstorming: National Dishes Think of as many national or typical dishes as you can under the following headings: Your own country UK Other countries

Discussion Questions Have you tried any of these dishes? Which ones? Did you like or dislike them? What is your favourite food? What is your least favourite? What is the strangest food you have ever eaten? Did it taste good or bad? Do you like trying new foods? Are there any foods that you wouldnt eat as a child that you eat now? Do you prefer your own countrys food or other kinds of food? Has your country adopted many foods from other countries? If you were living abroad, which food would you miss most from this country?

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Worksheet B Food Vocabulary Exercise In pairs think of a food to match each adjective. Tastes Adjective sour sweet salty bitter bland strong hot spicy Example Textures Adjective soft hard chewy crunchy crispy smooth creamy flaky Example

Now read the following clues and guess what food/dish is being described. CLUES This food is soft and it tastes sweet. It is made from cream, sugar and fruit or chocolate. It is eaten very cold, usually in summer. This food is crunchy and it can be salty or sweet. It is often eaten in the cinema. This food is hard on the outside, but usually soft in the middle. It is very versatile and is used to make lots of sweet and savoury dishes. In the UK people also eat it on its own for breakfast or in a sandwich. This food is usually hard and crunchy, and it is red or green in colour. People often use it to make desserts, eg pies.

Write some more clues of your own and see if your partner or the rest of the class can guess which food you are describing.

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Worksheet C British Food Quiz In pairs try to guess the right answer for each question. 1. Which of these do the British eat most of in Europe? a. crisps and chocolate b. fresh fruit and vegetables c. sausages 2. What is the most popular food in Britain? a. fish and chips b. pizza c. curry 3. What is haggis? a. a cocktail made from whisky and fruit juice b. a type of fish eaten in Scotland c. a Scottish dish made from sheeps stomach and innards 4. Stilton, cheddar and double Gloucester are all kinds of: a. apple b. pig c. cheese 5. What do most British people have for breakfast? a. toast and cereal b. cappuccino and croissant c. fried eggs and bacon 6. Who invented the sandwich and why? a. The Earl of Sandwich he wanted food which he could eat with one hand while gambling b. Lord Sandwich he wanted food which he could take for a picnic in the countryside c. Queen Elizabeth I she wanted food which could be prepared quickly for guests 7. What is a kebab? a. a type of pub b. Turkish fast food c. A hot drink 8. Which of the following ingredients would not be a possible ingredient of a British pudding? a. pigs blood b. chocolate c. lettuce

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9. Which of these do you find in a pub in Britain? a. lager b. cider c. bitter (trick question) 10. What is chicken tikka masala? a. a type of salad b. a type of Chinese food c. a curry 11. How many vegetarians are there in the UK today? a. 3-4 thousand b. 300-400 thousand c. 3-4 million 12. Where do people eat deep-fried chocolate bars? a. Scotland b. Japan c. Wales 13. When are toffee apples eaten in the UK? a. Christmas b. Halloween c. Easter 14. What is the difference between these things? a. chips and French fries b. crisps and chips c. fizzy drink and soda 15. When did the first curry house open in Britain? a. 1809 b. 1919 c. 1969

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Worksheet D Reading Task 1 Read the following article about cookery programmes and their effect on British cuisine.
Are Brits becoming more adventurous in the kitchen? What comes into your mind when you think of British food? Probably fish and chips, or a Sunday dinner of meat and two vegetables. But is British food really so bland and uninteresting? Despite a reputation for less-then-spectacular cuisine, Britain is producing more and more top class chefs who dominate our television screens and whose recipe books frequently top the best seller lists. Its thanks to these TV chefs rather than any advertising campaign that Britons are turning away from meat-and-two-veg and ready-made meals and becoming more adventurous in their cooking habits. It seems that TV programmes have the power to bring a higher profile to cooking and are wielding real influence on what people cook at home. According to a new study from market analysts, 1 in 5 Britons claim that watching cookery programmes on TV has encouraged them to try different food. Almost one third say they now use a wider variety of ingredients than they used to, and just under 1 in 4 (24%) say they now buy better quality ingredients than before. One in four adults say that TV chefs have made them much more confident about expanding their culinary knowledge and skills, and young people are also getting more interested in cooking. With an increasing number of male chefs on TV, its no longer uncool for boys to like cooking. The UKs new obsession with food is reflected through television scheduling. Cookery shows and documentaries about food are broadcast during prime time evening slots. Many of the new celebrity chefs promote modern fusion cuisine, which blends classic British cooking with international and exotic influences. Even the chefs themselves are younger, more beautiful and much more experimental, such as Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver. Jamie Oliver was only 23 when he first appeared on British television screens. More than 4 million people tuned in to his popular show Jamies Kitchen. The show began as an experiment and turned into a phenomenon. Jamie gave himself nine months to take a team of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds, with virtually no previous experience of cooking, and transform them into top class chefs to work in his new restaurant in East London, Fifteen. Jamie left school himself without formal qualifications and believes that with a passion for food, anyone can become a good cook. Fifteen has become a hit in London and is booked up months in advance. Jamie Oliver has proved to be a huge inspiration for British people. The recent survey finds that the number of those sticking to a traditional diet is slowly declining and around half of Britains consumers would like to change or improve their cooking in some way. There has been a rise in the number of students applying for food courses at UK universities and colleges, such as those offered by the School of Culinary Art at South Trafford College. Having been ridiculed for centuries for its mediocre cuisine, is Britain now competing with countries such as France and Italy in the field of culinary excellence?

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Decide whether the following statements are true or false: 1) Britain is starting to get a reputation for bad cuisine. 2) Advertising campaigns are encouraging British people to try new foods. 3) The most popular TV chefs in Britain are younger and more charismatic than they used to be. 4) Jamies Kitchen is a TV programme about ordinary people who set up their own restaurants with no cooking experience. 5) Jamies restaurant Fifteen will be opening in several months time. 6) The traditional British diet may be dying out. Questions for Discussion Apart from popular cooking programmes, can you think of any other reasons why people may be changing their cooking and eating habits in Britain? Think about the following factors: - Travel - Health - Vegetarianism - Ingredients available Have there been many changes in your country? Are there any new foods? Do you ever cook? If so, what do you like to cook? Would you like to train to work in Jamie Olivers restaurant, Fifteen? Why/why not?

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Worksheet E Reading Task 2 Read these reviews written about a variety of restaurants in London. Write down any new vocabulary or phrases which can be used to describe restaurants. The Ritz Food: traditional British or fusion cuisine Price per person: 80 This spectacular palace-style dining room is famous as one of Londons most luxurious, romantic restaurants. Its hard to resist splashing out on the exquisite 5 course menu. The staff are discreet and extremely polite. Its hardly surprising that the clients are a mixture of celebrities, business executives and wealthy tourists. Come here for a memorable dining experience, which will certainly do damage to your bank account! Yo sushi! Food: Japanese Price per person: 10-15 The best known sushi place in town. This restaurant is great both for its raw fish and its kitsch Japanese dcor. Service is efficient and speedy. You can eat delicious sushi for a few pounds, serve yourself unlimited beer, select food from a conveyor belt and even have a relaxing head massage! Sometimes there are karaoke nights here. This restaurant is bright and unromantic butgreat fun. Amaretto Food: Italian Price per person: 15-20 A family-owned restaurant that has faithful clients coming back again and again. Amaretto offers classic Italian food in warm and friendly surroundings. Whatever time you come here, this restaurant is always busy and lively. The pizzas and pasta dishes are well recommended as being tasty and excellent value for money. Great for families or big groups of friends. Levant Food: Lebanese/Middle Eastern Price per person: 20-30 An exotic Middle Eastern restaurant which is perfect for a romantic evening. The atmosphere is moody and intimate, with lots of candles, soft cushions and coloured glass lanterns. When you find the entrance, hidden away down a small street, you are greeted by luscious plants and the smell of incense and exotic perfumes. The menu offers a feast of authentic Lebanese food for people who like to try something new and unusual. If you stay late, you will even be able to watch a belly-dancing show! The George Inn Food: traditional British pub food Price per person: 5-10 A dark and smoky pub, which was built in 1780. Come here if you want to taste traditional English fish and chips or steak and kidney pie in a lively atmosphere. The food isnt great, the service is slow, but this pub serves a good range of beers and ales.
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Food for Thought Food: vegetarian Price per person: 5-10 This tiny colourful vegetarian restaurant and takeaway offers food free of chemicals, pesticides and preservatives. The food is good and the menu changes every day, but this place is also great if you just want a coffee. Dont come here at busy times if you want a slow, leisurely meal. Caf Sol Food: Mexican Price: 20-30 Caf Sol is a great place to go at any time. Enjoy authentic Mexican cuisine at lunchtime (watch out for the chilli!) or go for a drink and a dance when it gets dark. The atmosphere is always buzzing and vibrant, and the food is reasonably priced. On a Saturday night, the young crowds in Caf Sol are usually very loud and merry after sampling the extensive list of tequilas! The Hard Rock Caf Food: Tex-Mex and burgers Price per person: 10-20 A genuine celebration of rock n roll! This is the original Hard Rock Caf, here since the 1970s, and its the first ever theme restaurant. The queue to get in is legendary. You cant make reservations and you will find a queue almost all day long, every day of the year. But this actually adds to the memorable experience. Once in, theres good food and a great atmosphere, created by rock music, dim lighting and walls covered in rock memorabilia.

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Worksheet F Read the restaurant reviews in worksheet E and answer the questions. What restaurant would you recommend for... a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. music fans who dont mind queueing! a tourist wanting to try different English beers and ales. a person looking for a fun evening and good food on a budget. some young and hip professionals who like to dance. an adventurous couple looking for a romantic night out. a family looking for value for money. a health-conscious person on a budget. a person who enjoys spending money on high class dining.

Group task: Open a new restaurant! Work in groups of 3-5. Imagine you are going to open a new restaurant. Discuss and decide on the following aspects.

Who are your target consumers? What cuisine will you serve? Will you have any specialties, or a daily menu, or takeaway? What type of atmosphere will you try to generate? How? Will there be any entertainment? What decor will you have? Where will your restaurant be located? How will you advertise? What prices will you charge? What are you going to call your restaurant?

Be ready to present your new restaurant to the rest of the class!

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Worksheet G Food Proverbs and Quotes Read the quotes and proverbs about food and answer these questions: What is the meaning or implication of each proverb/quote? Which proverbs or quotes do you agree with? Are there any which you disagree with? Which is your favourite? Do you have any proverbs in your own language which refer to food or diet? Food Proverbs To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. La Rochefoucauld Stomach: A slave that must accept everything that is given to it, but which avenges wrongs as slyly as does the slave. Emile Souvester Part of the success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside. Mark Twain The discovery of a new dish does more for human happiness than the discovery of a new star. Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin When diet is wrong medicine is of no use. When diet is correct medicine is of no need. Proverb An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Proverb You are what you eat. Proverb Hunger is the best sauce in the world. Cervantes Strange to see how a good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody. Samuel Pepys Kissing doesnt last: cookery does. George Meredith Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all. Harriet Van Horne Fish, to taste right, must swim three times in water, in butter and in wine. Proverb
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Even were a cook to cook a fly, he would keep the breast for himself. Proverb One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well. Virginia Woolf There is no such thing as a little garlic. Proverb A smiling face is half the meal. Proverb Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. Proverb There is no sincerer love than the love of food. George Bernard Shaw I didnt fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian. Unknown

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