Exercise 2. Answer the questions to the text.

1. What is the restaurant trying to create?

2. What is the name of the restaurant?

3. What are the dishes in the menu sectioned off into?

4. What did the customers choose after cross-table deliberations?

5. Did they like the dishes?

6. Why did the author of the article recommend Sudar as a good eat out?

7. What is customer's advice?

TEXT 2

Exercise 1. Read and translate the text with the help of a dictionary. The Taste of Asia

I've always missed the time when I would frequently visit Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, where my mother was born. Most of all I missed the unique festive atmosphere of the stunning, colorful markets with spicy scents and aromas, beautiful carpets, freshly baked bread, juicy fruit and tons of delicious shish-kebabs (shashliks).

Last week those sweet Asian memories came flooding back to me and since I realized I couldn't jet down to Tashkent, I decided to taxi down to Uzbekistan, an upscale restaurant offering probably the best Asian food in town right in the center of Moscow.

Uzbekistan looks like a handsome palace, so when you enter, you find yourself in another world – bright, serene and tranquil. There are three eating zones: The light VIP room; a spacious room with numerous tables scattered around and a cozy balcony area with oriental drapes, which I fancied most of all; and a few different VIP rooms, decorated with silk, sense and style.

I had to dine alone, so naturally, I wanted to be in the thick of things. I opted for the balcony area, which was the lightest, bluest and nicest of all. A minute later I was offered a huge and heavy menu that I could hardly hold in my hands. The menu at Uzbekistan features three kinds of Asian cuisine: Uzbek, Chinese and Arabic. Of course, I wanted to try them all! Under the professional guidance of my friendly waitress, I figured out I would order my favorite Arabic entrees, afterwards I'd move on to the Chinese soup of shark fin and then I'd finish off with traditional Uzbek chicken shashlik.

As soon as my four small appetizers arrived, I felt the authentic aura of Asia once again. I had a portion of hummus (tender pureed chickpeas); babaganush (eggplant cooked Asian style); avocado salad (the softest and freshest I've ever tasted); and, finally, a couple of traditional piquant Arabic rice rolls wrapped in grape leaves. The four appetizers cost me 510 rubles. I sat back on the comfy banquette and began gazing at the vividly colored mosaics covering every centimeter of the restaurant. I didn't have time to relax since the service at Uzbekistan was really swift, and without pausing for a breath, I tasted my Chinese soup. It was very thick, very healthy-tasting and very filling. I decided to take a short break in order to be able to eat my shashlik feeling at least half-hungry. It took me 15 minutes to recover and although I ordered two skewers of shashlik, I could only eat one and a half. Sprinkled with Tkemali plum sauce, it tasted as yummy and authentic as in Tashkent! I like the "dolce vita", so I figured out it would be a crime against nature to leave without tasting any famous Asian desserts. For 476 rubles I was given the opportunity to put on my plate as many sweets as I wanted. After a moment of hesitation, I went for Kazinak (delicious almonds baked in honey); sunflower seeds baked in honey; Baklava (another delicious sweet also made of nuts); a yogurt tart; and a few more traditional desserts that tasted as outstanding as everything else I tried at Uzbekistan.

It was time to leave, but I felt happy: Now I know that the safest and fastest way to go to Asia is to visit Moscow's Uzbekistan.