Unit 6: Food and Cuisine

Strange Food from Around the World

Reading – I

A. Match the words with their meanings.

B. Match the following idioms with their meanings. 💬

The idiom 'a bridge too far' in the text means 'something that is too extreme'.

C. Complete the sentences below with the correct information from the text in not more than four words.

D. Answer the following questions. 🍴

a. Why does food become a challenge for people when they travel?

=> Answer: Food becomes challenging for travellers because they may encounter unfamiliar meals that differ greatly from their usual food. New ingredients, flavours and preparation methods can make eating an unusual experience.

b. How is haggis prepared?

=> Answer: Haggis is prepared using a sheep's heart, liver and lungs. The organs are ground and mixed with mutton fat, oatmeal and spices. The mixture is then put into a sheep's stomach and boiled for several hours.

c. When do you feel that you like shiokara?

=> Answer: The writer starts appreciating shiokara after becoming accustomed to its taste and having it while enjoying good conversation.

d. Where can people enjoy the bush food?

=> Answer: People can enjoy the bush food, especially green ants, in Australia.

e. Why does the writer find it difficult to eat larger insects?

=> Answer: The writer finds larger insects difficult to eat because they cannot be consumed in one bite. Having to bite them repeatedly makes him feel uncomfortable.

f. Name the country where snails are served as the main dish.

=> Answer: Snails are served as the main dish in France.

g. What kind of food is bun rieu?

=> Answer: Bun rieu is a traditional Vietnamese soup made with crab-based broth and noodles. It is served with ingredients such as roasted tomatoes, crab meat, stewed pork, lime juice, chilli, fresh herbs, banana flower and bean sprouts.

h. If you have to choose one of the foods from the list above, which one do you choose? Why?

=> Answer: The answer will vary as it is a personal choice question.

E. Which of the dishes mentioned in the text did you find the strangest of all? Give reasons.

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Grammar I 🔤

A. Match the sentence halves in I and II to make a complete sentence.

B. Complete the text below choosing the correct connective from the brackets.

The people at the fair were leaving because the lights were going out. The last two people in dodgem cars also left as it was getting dark. The big wheel stopped and the merry-go-round had already stopped. The stalls closed down and the stall-owners went home. At 2 a.m. four nightwatchmen walked round the funfair to see if there was anyone to be seen.

"I'm fed up walking around," one of them said, "What can we do so that there is nothing we can do?"

"We can sit and talk."

They were bored because there was nothing to do on that quiet warm night.

"We can have a ride on the merry-go-round!" one of them cried. "That'll be fun!"

Three of them jumped on merry-go-round horses, so the fourth started the motor. Then he jumped on too and round they went. They were having the time of their lives. Suddenly they realized there was no one to stop the machine because all of them were on it. They weren't rescued till morning, so they felt very sick indeed!

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Writing I ✍️

B. What is your favourite food? Write a recipe to prepare it. Mention the ingredients and the methods to cook it.

My favourite food is dal bhat tarkari, a traditional Nepali dish. Here is a recipe to prepare it:

Ingredients for Dal 🍲

• •
  1 cup red lentils (masoor dal)

• •
  3 cups water
• •
  1 teaspoon salt

• •
  1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• •
  1 teaspoon oil

Ingredients for Tarkari (Vegetable Curry) 🥕

• •
  1 cup cauliflower florets

• •
  1 cup carrot slices
• •
  1/2 cup French beans cut into pieces

• •
  1 teaspoon oil
• •
  1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

• •
  1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• •
  1 teaspoon red chili powder

• •
  1/2 teaspoon salt

Method 👨‍🍳

1. •
   Cook rice as usual.

1. •
   Wash and soak the lentils in water for 20–30 minutes.
2. •
   In a pan, add the lentils, water, salt and turmeric powder.

1. •
   Cook the dal on medium flame till it becomes soft and mushy.
2. •
   For the tarkari, heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds.

1. •
   Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for 1 minute.
2. •
   Add all vegetables and chili powder. Mix well.

1. •
   Add salt and 2–3 tablespoons of water. Cook on medium flame till the vegetables are tender.
2. •
   Serve the hot dal and tarkari with steaming hot rice and other condiments like ghee, dahi, achar and salad.

Enjoy your wholesome and traditional Nepali meal of dal bhat tarkari!

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You Inspire Others by Learning, not by Teaching 🌟

Reading – II 📖

A. Complete the crossword puzzle with the help of the meanings given below.

B. Write True for true and False for false statements. If the information is not given in the text, write NG.

C. Answer these questions. 👨‍🍳

a. What do you think is the reason that heightened the popularity of Chef Shah?

=> Answer: Chef Shah's appearance in MasterChef: The Professionals 2020 on BBC One significantly increased his public recognition. The programme gave him a valuable opportunity to display his culinary abilities and introduce Nepali cuisine to an international audience.

b. Did Shah spend a normal childhood? Why?

=> Answer: No, Shah's childhood was quite different from that of an ordinary child. His father died when he was five, and he began working at an early age to help support his family. These circumstances played an important role in shaping his later life and career.

c. How does Shah feel about his performance in Cinnamon Kitchen?

=> Answer: Shah feels proud about his performance in Cinnamon Kitchen.

d. What does Shah want to show the world about Nepali food?

=> Answer: Shah wants to prove that Nepali cuisine has a distinct character and considerable diversity. While it has been influenced by Tibetan and Indian food traditions, he wants the world to discover the special ingredients, flavours and cooking practices that give Nepali food its own identity.

e. Write two things that Chef Shah was careful about while carrying an experiment on sukuti.

=> Answer: Two things that Chef Shah was careful about while carrying an experiment on sukuti were dehydrating it to soften its texture and preservation of the original taste.

f. According to Shah, what two things make a person successful?

=> Answer: According to Shah, two things which make a person successful are continuous learning and being positive.

g. Why does Shah want the Michelin Star for Ayla?

=> Answer: Shah wants to win a Michelin Star for Ayla because it is a prestigious form of recognition in the culinary profession. He believes that receiving the honour would strengthen Ayla's reputation and help Nepali cuisine receive greater recognition while developing its own identity internationally.

h. What have you learned from the life story of Santosh Shah?

=> Answer: The story of Santosh Shah teaches us that determination, optimism and continuous improvement are important qualities for achieving success. His difficult childhood did not prevent him from developing his talent and reaching an international platform. His journey encourages us to learn from difficulties, remain committed to our goals and continue working towards our dreams.

D. Chef Shah cooked many dishes in the competition. If you were one of the judges in the competition, which food would you ask him to cook? Why?

The dish can be prepared with different types of fillings, including meat and vegetables. This would allow Chef Shah to demonstrate his creativity, precision and professional cooking skills. He could also give the traditional dish a refined presentation while maintaining its Nepali character.

I would choose momos because they have become popular in many places outside Nepal. Asking Chef Shah to prepare them would therefore provide an opportunity for the judges to enjoy a familiar yet culturally significant Nepali dish and understand the richness of Nepal's culinary tradition.

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Grammar II 🔤

A. Choose the correct time expressions in the sentences below.

B. Write NOW if the sentence uses present continuous for action at the moment. AROUND, if action is around the current moment, or FUTURE if the action is scheduled for future.

C. Complete the text below with the correct form of the verb given in the brackets.

Why is Neelam smiling? It sounds like an easy question: she is having a good time with friends and she feels good after a good shot. But psychologists often argue about this question. Some believe that smiling is an individual act: we smile because we feel happy unless we try to hide our emotions. Others claim that we smile to build social relationships. Some animals use a grin to show that they will not fight, for example. Perhaps our smile serves the same function.

So, who's right? In one study, researchers filmed people bowling. If you watch people doing a very social activity like this, it looks as if they always smile. They stop smiling only when they concentrate on their next shot. But when do they start smiling again? After each good shot, the researchers took photographs to identify when the smile starts — while the player is still looking down the alley or a few seconds later when they turn round to share their happiness with the group.

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Writing II 📝

Nowadays, many Nepali prefer fast foods like noodles, pizza, burgers, etc. to typical Nepali foods. This has an adverse effect on their health. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this claim? Write a couple of paragraphs giving reasons to support your view.

Adverse Effects of Fast Food Consumption on Nepalese People

I agree with the view that the increasing habit of eating fast food can negatively influence the health of Nepali people. Foods such as noodles, pizza and burgers are attractive because they are readily available, convenient and quick to prepare. However, making these foods a regular replacement for traditional and nutritious meals can result in poor dietary habits.

One important concern is the nutritional content of many fast foods. They may contain considerable amounts of salt, fat and calories while providing fewer essential nutrients. When people frequently choose such foods instead of balanced meals, their diet may become less nutritious. Traditional Nepali food, when prepared with a variety of healthy ingredients, can provide important nutrients through foods such as grains, lentils and vegetables. The increasing dependence on fast food is therefore worth considering from a health perspective.

However, I do not think that people must completely stop eating fast food. It can be enjoyed from time to time if it is not allowed to replace nutritious everyday meals. People can make healthier choices, control their portions and balance occasional fast food with wholesome home-cooked food. Proper nutrition education can also help people, particularly young students, understand the importance of making sensible food choices.

In conclusion, I agree that eating fast food excessively can have adverse effects on health. Nevertheless, occasional consumption can be acceptable when people maintain a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. The main priority should be to make nutritious foods the regular part of daily meals while keeping fast food as an occasional choice.