The ESL HELP! Desk

Definitely Fattening!

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Definitely Fattening

Hello!  Welcome to the popular and unique ESL HELP! Desk, where we care about improving your English grammar and communication.

Last week we presented you with phrases for indicating items that you want so you don't have to go around pointing and feeling embarrassed.  We used the demonstrative pronouns - this, that, these, and those.  For our subject matter, we used various food dishes that are popular among Americans and the various immigrant groups who are currently residing in the United States and who have made the U.S. their home.  Let's take a look at some of those dishes, which you are likely to find either at a local restaurant or at a buffet dinner, and learn a little more about each one.

 

What's this?
I'll have some of this, please!

This is tabouli and it's a middle eastern dish. It's very popular in countries such as Israel, Syria, and Lebanon.

 

What's this dish called?
Is there meat in it?

This dish is called bulbogi.  It's a Korean dish and if you are vegetarian, you don't want to order this dish. It definitely contains meat, such as beef, chicken, or pork.
 

What are those?
I'll try some of those! 

Those are arapas and they are a hispanic dish and are popular in countries such as Columbia.  They can be eaten as an appetizer or a main dish. If you are a vegetarian, and even a carnivore, you'll like arapas served with salsa.

What kind of pie is this?
Could I please have a slice?

This is pecan pie It is a classic American recipe and is very popular at the Thanksgiving Day meal.  If you want to lose weight, stay away from pecan pie!  Pecan pie is very fattening.

What do you call this?

This is spaghetti and it's a popular Italian dish. It's become a mainstay in the United States.  It is served dairy (with grated cheese) or with meatballs, a dish commonly known as "spaghetti and meatballs".

What are these?  What's in them? 

You're looking at kimbab and they are from South Korea. They look like sushi and are similar to sushi but have slightly different ingredients.

Here's one I like!  What is this dish called?  I'll have some of that! 

This is flan. It's Spanish, and it's delicious.  It's one of my favorite desserts.

Now make up your own sentences. In the chart below, fill in the parts of the chart that are empty.  Use the correct demonstrative pronoun (this, these) and the correct verb (is, are) for each food.

	apple pie	french fries	burritos	pizza	sushi	quiche
This is... or They are...	This is apple pie.
It's from... or They're from...		They are from Belgium.
____ is/are good for you... or ___ is/are not good for you but it's /they're delicious.					Sushi is good for you, and it is delicious, too.

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