Fish and Chips

One of Britain’s best-known meals is fish and chips. It is not only delicious, but also a part of British culture.

The fish is covered in batter (made from eggs, milk and flour) then fried in hot oil. When cooked, the batter is crispy and the piece of fresh fish inside is soft. This is served with chips, pieces of deep-fried potato, which are them sprinkled with salt and vinegar.

Fish and chip shops have been around since the 19th century. It was traditional in parts of Britain to eat fish and chips on Friday evening. Families would usually buy them from their nearest shop and serve them at home. It used to be quite a cheap meal and was often served wrapped in newspaper.

Irish Stew

Any Irish person will tell you that the best Irish stew is the one their mother makes. In fact, no two Irish stews are the same, because everyone who cooks it changes the recipe in their own way.

Originally, Irish stew was a dish that poorer people made because it was cheap and filling. The main ingredients were lamb and potatoes, both of which were easy to find in Ireland. Other ingredients were usually onions, carrots and parsley.

Today, Irish stew is still the same basic dish – a kind of thick soup or casserole made of meat, potatoes and vegetables. However, the exact recipe varies to suit individual tastes and the availability of ingredients. For example, many Irish immigrants in America found beef to be cheaper and more available than lamb, and so they used beef instead. Some recipes have even changed this simple dish into a gourmet meal.

Burger and Fries

A burger and fries is by far the most popular type of meal bought in the US. In fact, Americans buy almost 5 billion burgers a year! This popularity has spread around the world with the growth of international “fast food” restaurant chains.

Many people say that the first burger was served at the St Louis World’s Fair in 1904. The first chain of burger restaurants started with the White Castle burger in 1921, and it was a great success.

The classicburger is made from about 100 grams of minced beef which is fried or grilled, then served in a bun covered with sesame seeds. The growing popularity of vegetarianism has also led to burgers made from soya bean “meat” instead. Fries, also called French fries, are cooked like English chips, but they are cut into thinner slices.

A burger and French fries may not be the healthiest meal in the world – but it is certainly one of the word’s favourites.

Pancakes with Maple Syrup

Canada’s most famous dish is pancakes with maple syrup. It is traditionally eaten for breakfast, and can be found on the menu in practically every dinner in the country.

Pancakes are made from eggs, milk and flour, and they are cooked on a griddle. They are round and quite thick, and they are served with maple syrup poured over the top.

Maple syrup is made from the sap of the sugar maple tree. The sap is collected from the trees in early spring, then boiled until it turns into a golden syrup. The syrup is delicious when poured on ice-cream, waffles – and, of course, pancakes.

Post-reading

• Which text(s) – A, B, C or D – mention(s) a dish………

1. that may be fried in oil?

2. that includes meat?

3. traditionally eaten in the morning?

4. some of whose ingredients may vary?

5. traditionally eaten on a particular day of the week?

• Match the italicized words to their synonyms, then explain them in your own language: surely; changes; presented; tasty; simple; typical

Speaking

• What are the most popular traditional dishes in your country? What do you know about their history, how they are made, etc?

• What food would you recommend to somebody visiting your country for the first time?

• What are the pleasant and unpleasant aspects of cooking for you?

• Do you think, with the growing popularity of fast food, convenience food, junk food etc., we are losing forever the art of fine cooking and good eating?

 Writing

1. Your friend finds the University Canteen’s menus monotonous and the choice of dishes scanty. She thinks she should take up cooking as soon as possible. But the problem is that she has got neither skill nor ability to use her grants. She seeks for your help and advice. Share your cooking experience and provide your friend with a few recipes which are simple in cooking and not expensive.

2. A friend has asked you for a new idea for a meal. Think of something you can cook and write down instructions for making it and cooking it as you would write it to send to him/her by post. Use transitional words and phrases.

3. Think about your favourite holiday food. Answer the questions on a sheet of paper.

• What is its history? Where does it come from? How is it made? What is its value in your culture?

• What are its special qualities? What makes it different from other foods? Why do you like it? Why might other people not like it?

• What would you do if you moved to a place where you couldn’t get this food?

4.Use your ideas to write a paragraph about your favourite dish on a sheet of paper. Use transitional words and phrases in your paragraph to move from sentence to sentence.