Lesson 1: Eating Out
Australia
is the most cosmopolitan country in the world, with
people from more than 180 countries living here. That
is why there is such a variety of food available in
Perth restaurants – Italian, Thai, Japanese,
French, Chinese and many more.
But what is real Australian food like? Read and listen
to the following conversation.
Listen
to the audio of the conversation between Satomi and
Leigh by clicking on the link below.
Click
here to listen (MP3)
Technical requirements: Computer
with Sound Card and Speakers
Read the conversation between Satomi and Leigh.
To view the meaning of the words in bold,
click on the Vocabulary tab.
Satomi,
from Japan, and Leigh are eating at a Thai restaurant.
Satomi:
This food is absolutely delicious Leigh.
Leigh:
That’s for sure! Thai
food is really in at the moment, and no
wonder, it’s really yummy.
Satomi:
Can I serve you some more green curry?
Leigh:
Ta, I’ve eaten heaps
already but I’ll just have a wee bit
more. This food really hits the spot.
Satomi:
There you are.
Leigh:
Thanks.
Satomi:
Leigh, what is typical Aussie food like?
Leigh:
Aussie tucker is pretty plain, usually
meat with some vegies. My favourite
is a baked chook with baked spuds
and pumpkin, cauliflower with cheese sauce, greens
and gravy. These days more and more people are getting
into bush tucker, like roo
and emu. They are very low fat meats.
If more people ate them instead of fatty meat there
wouldn’t be as many people getting crook
with heart disease.
Satomi:
My friend told me barbecues are very popular in Australia.
Leigh:
Sure, we love having barbies here.
It’s great to chuck a few snags
on the barbie, crack a stubby or
two and and relax with friends and family. Sometimes
the flies or mozzies might be a
hassle, but that’s OK, no worries!
Satomi:
I hate flies.
Leigh:
Yeah, they can drive you up the wall
sometimes, especially in the bush.
They can be a real pain in the neck.
Satomi:
They’re yucky!
Leigh:
Anyway, let’s not talk about creepy
crawlies while we’re eating.
Satomi:
You’re right, what shall we have for dessert…
Find our the meaning of the words used in the conversation
by reading below.
That’s
for sure = I fully agree
Thai
food is in = popular/in fashion
No
wonder = I’m not surprised
Yummy
= delicious
Ta
= thanks (taken from baby talk)
Heaps
= a lot/lots
A
wee bit = a little bit (originally Scottish
English)
Hits
the spot = is just what I want
Tucker
= food
Vegies
= vegetables
Chook
= chicken (for the animal as well as the meat)
Spuds
= potatoes
Greens
= green vegetables
Getting
into = enjoying
Bush
tucker = food from the Australian bush
Roo
= kangaroo
Emu
= a large flightless Australian bird
Crook
= sick
Barbies
= barbecues
Chuck
= throw
Snags
= sausages
Crack
a stubby = open a small bottle of beer
Mozzies
= mosquitoes
A
hassle = a bother/ a nuisance
No
worries = it doesn’t matter, that’s
fine
Drive
you up the wall = annoy you/bother you
The
bush = the countryside/forest/away from the
city
A
pain in the neck = a nuisance/a bother
Yucky
= horrible/disgusting
In
the following sentences, choose the best meaning for
the bold words or expressions.
Simple
click on your answer and you will receive an instant
score.
