We all love food! Food is one thing that is common among all human beings. Of course, over time we begin to develop a liking or a dislike towards certain types of food. For some chocolate must be something to gorge upon whereas, for a few, chocolate probably does not ring the desired bell in one’s palate.
Possessing a dislike or a liking for something cannot be judged, instead one should learn about how to express their likes and dislikes in well- spoken English. It is crucial to ensure your English grammar is well in sync with the vocabulary you choose to use.
Simple spoken English in the first few days of your exercise should work as a charm. This article is all about how to talk about the food you like in a correct way.
Technicalities to Keep in Mind While Talking About Food
It is always good to keep your English speaking skills at its sharpest best when describing or explaining something to someone. This is a great exercise to improve your English and your English speaking skills.
Talking about your favourite food is also not different. You need to keep in mind some descriptive words and have a range of culinary vocabulary ready at hand when you are about to tell someone about what food you like in particular.
Here’s what you may consider using:
delicious
tasty
fresh
healthy
nutritious
plain
spicy
salty
exotic
fatty
low-calorie
restricted
special
gluten-free
high/low-fibre
high/low-protein
low-fat
leafy
root
salad
cooked
raw
fresh
frozen
tinned
organic
Also Read: Daily Use of English Sentences in Conversations: Spoken English Sentences for Everyday
Why are You Asked to Talk About the Food You Like?
Often interviewers ask candidates, apparently silly questions which are unrelated to the job. One such question is “what is your favourite food?” or “tell us about the kind of food you like to eat.” While different people have different opinions about why such questions are asked, a good reason could be they want to check how well you can respond to such off-guard questions.
All the interviewers know that a candidate prepares a lot before coming to an interview. Thus often their answers sound rehearsed and diplomatic. Unexpected questions throw them off their guards and they are left with no choice but answer genuinely from their heart. Such candid conversations tell a lot about a person than a set questionnaire.
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Additionally, questions like these also help to lighten the sombre mood of an interview and introduce an element of fun. A candidate is more likely to answer better in a relaxed atmosphere and thus a question like “what is your favourite food?” comes handy.
Therefore, next time you go for an interview and the interviewer asks you about your favourite food, do not get alarmed. Take it as an opportunity to present yourself as you really are. Remember, nothing cuts a more impressive figure than pure genuineness.
Also Read: What Are Homophones and Homographs And Why You Should Know Them
List of Food Vocabulary
Note down these food vocabulary words to use in your conversations:
Food Condition
fresh – Sushi always requires fresh fish.
off – I’m afraid this cheese tastes off.
raw – Sushi is made from raw fish as well as vegetables, seaweed, and rice.
ripe – Make sure the bananas are ripe so I can use them in the cake.
rotten – This meat smells rotten. I think we should throw it away.
tough – The steak was very tough. I could hardly chew it!
tender – The lamb was so tender that it seemed to melt in my mouth.
undercooked – The undercooked salmon was very poor.
unripe – Many types of fruit are picked unripe and become ripe as they are shipped.
overcooked – The broccoli was overcooked. It should have been crisper.
Food Verbs
bake – I’ll bake a cake for her birthday party.
boil – You should boil these potatoes for forty-five minutes.
cook – What would you like me to cook for dinner?
fry – I usually fry some eggs and bacon on Saturday mornings.
grill – During the summer I like to grill meat outside.
heat – Heat up the soup and make some sandwiches.
microwave – Microwave the macaroni for three minutes and eat.
poach – Jennifer prefers to poach her eggs.
roast – Let’s put this in the oven and roast for two hours.
steam – The best way to cook many vegetables is to steam them for a few minutes.
Food Quantities
bar – Melt one bar of butter for the sauce.
liter – I’ll put a liter of water on to boil for the pasta.
loaf – I bought three loaves of bread at the supermarket.
lump – Put of a lump of butter on top of the casserole to make it tasty.
piece – Would you like a piece of chicken?
pint – I drank a pint of ale at the pub.
portion – Have you eaten your portion of vegetables today?
slice – Please put three slices of cheese on my sandwich.
spoonful – Add two spoonfuls of sugar to sweeten.
Food Taste
bitter – The almonds were very bitter. I could hardly eat the cookies.
bland – This sauce is very bland. It doesn’t taste like anything.
creamy – I enjoy eating creamy tomato soup on cold winter days.
crisp – The apple was crisp and delicious.
crunchy – Granola is a very crunch type of breakfast cereal.
hot – The soup is hot. Let it cool down.
mild – The spices are very mild.
salty – The sauce was much too salty. I think you should add some water and boil it down.
savoury – Savory crackers with cheese make a great snack.
sour – Lemons are very sour!
spicy – Greg enjoys eating spicy Mexican food.
sweet – The cherry pie wasn’t too sweet. It was just right.
tasteless – The vegetables have been cooked for too long. They’re tasteless.
Food Types
barbecue – Do you enjoy barbecue during the summer?
buffet – We went to an Indian buffet and had all we could eat.
four-course meal – My wife and I enjoy making four-course meals on special occasions.
picnic – Let’s take a picnic in the park and enjoy the good weather.
snack – You should eat a snack at four, but don’t eat too much.
TV dinner – TV dinners are disgusting but fast.
Eating and Drinking
bite – Don’t bite off more meat than you can comfortably chew.
chew – You should chew each bite well before you swallow.
swallow – If you swallow too much you might choke on your food.
sip – It’s best to slowly sip a cocktail rather than gulp it down.
guzzle – He guzzled a glass of water after he finished the job.
gulp down – He hungrily gulped down the meal as he was very hungry.
Preparing Drinks
add – Add two shots of whiskey and some rum.
fill – Fill the glass with ice.
mix – Mix in a teaspoon of sugar.
pour – Pour your drink over ice cubes.
shake – Shake the drink well and pour into a glass.
stir – Stir the ingredients well and enjoy with your favorite seafood.
Also Read : The Formula of Present Perfect Continuous Tense: Facts and Rules to Know
How to Speak About Your Favourite Food?
Example 1
It’s difficult for me to pick just one favourite type of food because I enjoy them all! If I had to pick, though, I can think of anything I enjoy having as a special treat now and then.
The meal is straightforward. It’s something I’ve always considered as a Greek speciality, although others claim it comes from Egypt. This dish is known as “Houmous,” and I adore it.
It’s just cooked, mashed garbanzo with tahini, canola oil, lime juice, salt, and garlic combined together. It’s famous in the Middle East (including Istanbul), North Africa (including Morocco), and Eastern European cuisine all over the world, but it’s also a personal favourite of mine, albeit I’m picky about which kind I buy.
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I live near a fantastic delicatessen run by a charming couple, he is Roman and she is classic Yorkshire. They prepare their own hummus with just the best canola oil and as much fresh garlic as they can get their hands on. It’s a bit pricey, but I really like it. And, for some reason, it’s superior to my own efforts; I’m not sure why, but it shouldn’t be that difficult to make.
Why do I like it so much? I adore garlic, and I think it’s partially because of the smoothness and partly because of the flavour. Plus, I’m a vegan, and it’s a highly healthy diet, with plenty of protein and good-for-you fats. Of course, there is such a thing as having too much of a positive thing, but I believe it is well worth it.
It is my favourite cuisine not only because it is extremely tasty, but also because it can be shared with others. It’s finest served with friends as a dip. I sliced a lot of onions, cucumber, and lettuce into crudités to make a bright dish, maybe with some warm pita bread slices as well.
A good bottle of white wine can also assist. Then we can all relax and enjoy the fresh hummus dip while sipping our glasses of red wine and talking and laughing to bring the world back in order. It’s a fantastic way to appreciate a fantastic food item.
Example 2
I have a variety of favourite foods that I enjoy eating. While some of these dishes are classic, others have unique recipes and preparation techniques. Today, though, I’d like to talk about a cuisine dish that is prepared in a traditional fashion.
“Hilsha fish curry” is one of my favourite dishes. The national food of Bangladesh is Hilsa (or Ilish) curry, which is created from the Hilsa fish and is among the most popular and traditional Bangladeshi cuisines.
Every portion of the Hilsa fish, such as the head and the eggs, is eaten in Bangladesh. In fact, nothing goes to waste because every portion of this fish has its own distinct flavour. There are fish egg recipes and fish head stews that are popular across the country.
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This exact culinary item is also very popular in many places of India, although they cook their local Hilsha fish. In fact, the exporting of this delectable fish from Bangladesh is occasionally relied upon by Indians. Hilsa fish, salt, turmeric, black garam masala, green chillies, mustard oil, and water are the components required to make this meal.
Based on what kind of flavour one chooses, mustard oil and fenugreek seeds are also important in the making of this dish. However, in order to prepare this delectable dish, the Hilsha fish should first be marinated in turmeric and pepper paste before being slowly fried over low heat and served with mustard sauce and boiled rice. The end result is a delicious mix of sweet and savoury flavours with a touch of heat.
However, Hilsa curry is my new favourite cuisine because it is hearty, flavorful, and simple to prepare. Furthermore, it is commonly available around the country, particularly during the rainy season. Lastly, it’s my fav because it’s the only genuine “Bengali” curry that can be prepared at any time.
Conclusion
Talking about food is definitely a fun way to initiate a hearty conversation. Especially if you are someone who enjoys anything that is related to food, this kind of conversation is sure to bring a smile to your face.
However, like every descriptive topic, talking about your favourite food also needs some technicalities. Your vocabulary should reflect your interest in food and you definitely need to deliver that in an honest, unpretentious manner. Once all these boxes are ticked you can go on talking about the kind of food that you absolutely adore!
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Also Read: Telephone Conversation in English: Formal Phone Conversation Examples for Better Understanding
