Unit 15: English for Catering

Morten	Good afternoon, this is Casa La Mama. Morten speaking.
Ramona	I'd like to reserve a table for Friday evening, please.
Morten	Certainly, madam. What time would you like the table for?
Ramona	Nine o'clock. For a party of eight. Oh, one of the party is a vegetarian.
Morten	No problem. There's a choice of vegetarian dishes on the menu.
Ramona	Can I take my dog in with me?
Morten	No, I'm terribly sorry. No pets are allowed.
Ramona	He isn't a pet. He's my guide dog.
Morten	Oh, you mean a guide dog for the blind.
Ramona	Yes.
Morten	Then that's quite all right, madam. So, a table for eight for Friday the 13th. May I have your name, please?
Ramona	Deville.
Morten	Could you spell that, please?
Ramona	Yes, it's D-E-V-I-double L-E
Morten	Thank you very much Ms. Deville. See you on Friday.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

When would Ramona like to book a table for?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How many people in her party are vegetarians?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why does Morten say Ramona can't take her dog into the restaurant?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Ramona is allowed to take her dog into the restaurant:
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Head Waiter	Good afternoon, Sir. Have you got a reservation?
John	Yes, I have.
Head Waiter	Could I have your name, please?
John	John Burton.
Head Waiter	A table for one, Mr. Burton? Smoking or non-smoking?
John	Smoking, please, but I'd like a table for two. I'm expecting a friend.
Head Waiter	Right this way, sir. I'll show you to your table.
John	Could I have a smaller table, near the window?
Head Waiter	I'm sorry, sir. The window tables are in the non-smoking area. Perhaps you'd prefer to sit outdoors.
John	No, I'd rather sit indoors. It's warmer here.
Head Waiter	Please, follow me. The waiter will be with you in a moment.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What does the Head Waiter do?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Has John made a reservation?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Why can't John sit by the window?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Where would John rather sit?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Who does John follow?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Waiter	Good afternoon, sir. Here's the menu. Would you like a drink while you are looking at it?
John	Yes, that's a good idea. I'll have a Bloody Mary. And you Pamela?
Pamela	I think I'll have a dry Martini. And could you bring me a glass of still water with some ice in it, please.
Waiter	Yes, of course.
John	Could I see the wine list too, please?
Waiter	Certainly, sir. I'll bring it right away.
John	Thank you.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What does the waiter give John to look at?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What does John think is a good idea?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What kind of drink does John order?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Who takes the order?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What will the waiter bring right away?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Waiter	Are you ready to order?
Pamela	I think I'll have a prawn cocktail for a starter.
John	Let me see. Mmm. The same for me.
Waiter	And as a main course? Do you prefer fish or meat?
Pamela	I don't like fish very much. The beef with a mustard sauce and sautéed mushrooms looks good. I'm going to have that.
Waiter	Excellent choice madam. And for you, sir?
John	I don't like fish very much either. I'll have the grilled steak. Does it come with a green pepper sauce?
Waiter	Yes, sir. And all our dishes are served with a selection of vegetables.
Pamela	Could I have some white rice?
Waiter	Certainly, madam. And what would you like to drink?
John	We'll have a bottle of the house red.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

What is a starter?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What starters do they order?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What dish did Pamela choose?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
John orders meat because:
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What wine do they order?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Exercise 5: Multiple Choice Questions

Chose the correct answer.

Recording:

Transcript:

Waiter	Would you like a dessert, sir ?
John	No, thank you. Just some coffee with cream, and the bill please.
Waiter	Yes, sir. I'll bring it immediately. Was everything to your satisfaction?
John	Yes, everything was fine.
Waiter	Here's your coffee, and your bill, sir.
John	Thank you. Just a moment. This dish here, French fries. We didn't have any French fries.
Waiter	Let me see, sir. Yes, that's a mistake. I'm sorry about that, sir.
John	Is service included in the bill?
Waiter	Yes, sir. It is. And VAT is added too.
John	Here you are. Keep the change.
Waiter	Thank you sir. We look forward to seeing you again.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Was everything to John's satisfaction?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What was wrong with the bill?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How did John pay the bill?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Was the service charge included in the bill?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Did John give the waiter a tip?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

General Comprehension

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Exercise 2: Sentence Completion

Speaking Practice. Complete the sentences you hear, using the example as a model.

Grammar Practice

Exercise 1: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Exercise 2: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Exercise 3: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Exercise 4: Transformation

Using the example as a model, change the structure and make a new sentence.

Consolidation

Exercise 1: True/False Statements

For each of the statements below, choose True or False.

Recording:

Transcript:

Running a restaurant seems pretty simple but in fact a lot of things have to be done. Somebody has to buy and maintain stocks of food and drink, decide on seating arrangements, and choose the right tableware and kitchen equipment. The tables must be laid, with the plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses and napkins in the right places. Somebody must prepare menus, welcome guests, take orders, serve food, and prepare bills. Somebody of course has to cook, and finally tables must be cleared away and somebody has to wash up.

Catering can also mean preparing food and serving it not in a restaurant, but in places like schools or factories, or preparing meals in one place and serving them in another. Sometimes caterers don't just take food to a party, a company reception or a wedding, but have to plan the whole event. If you are creative, love cooking and enjoy working with people, catering can be an exciting profession which demands hard work and the ability to work under pressure.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

Waiters and waitresses must know how to lay a table.

[?]
It doesn't matter where you put the knives and forks on a table.

[?]
Running a restaurant is simple.

[?]
Catering is only about food.

[?]
Catering includes many kinds of work.

[?]
Caterers often plan events like company receptions.

[?]
Schools and factories sometimes have their own catering staff.

[?]
Catering companies often take food to schools and factories.

[?]
You need to like cooking to enjoy catering.

[?]
Running a catering business is easy work. .

[?]

Exercise 2: Dictation

Listen to the complete recording first. Then go to the textbox and use the ‘>’ key to listen to the text section by section. Type what you hear into the textbox. For detailed instructions, read the Exercise Help.

Exercise 3: Cloze

Listen to the recording carefully and then fill in the gaps in the text below using the same words.

Recording:

Transcript:

Somebody of course has to cook, and finally tables must be cleared away and somebody has to wash up.

Somebody of course [?] to cook, and finally tables must be cleared [?] and somebody has to wash [?].

Catering can also mean preparing food and serving it [?] in a restaurant, [?] in places like schools or factories, or preparing meals in one place and serving them in [?]. Sometimes caterers don't [?] take food to a party, a company reception or a wedding, but have to plan the [?] event. If you are creative, love cooking and enjoy working with people, catering [?] be an exciting profession which demands hard work and the ability to work [?] pressure.

Exercise 4: Gap Filling

Choose the correct option to fill the gaps in the following sentences.

This exercise can be also done purely aurally/orally:

I don't like fish ____
a.
b.
c.

[?]
I'm afraid ____ pets are allowed.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
I'd like some prawns to start ____
a.
b.
c.

[?]
____ our dishes are served with a selection of vegetables.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Could I have a ____ table?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
We didn't have ____ vegetables.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
I'd ____ sit indoors.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
We look forward to ____ you again.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
____ water is a mineral water
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Spoons, forks and ____ are tableware.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You need the ability to work under____ .
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Running a catering company is very much ____running a restaurant
a.
b.
c.

[?]
Good afternoon, this is Tropicana. Jose ____.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
No, I'm ____ sorry.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
You need to like cooking ____ enjoy catering.
a.
b.
c.

[?]
He shows the guests to ____ table
a.
b.
c.

[?]
I'm ____ a friend
a.
b.
c.

[?]
I'm afraid no ____ are allowed
a.
b.
c.

[?]
How many ____ are in your party?
a.
b.
c.

[?]
What would you like for your ____ course?
a.
b.
c.

[?]

Checklist

Use the following list to check whether you have obtained full benefit from this unit. You should be able to:

order a meal in a restaurant