Watch the following video. Do you recognize any objects on it? Make a mental list of the things you recognize.
Good Manners and Dining Etiquette - Pretty Woman, 1990
Do you know the name of the utensil that appears on the clip? In the video, you could see different clutter used for having dinner. In this lesson, you will review different vocabulary related to utensils on the table. Let's get started!
At family dinners, we don't have to follow the rules of etiquette for formal dining, but if you go to expensive restaurants or travel for business, it's helpful to know these rules. You might also need to know them if you're hosting a dinner party or having special guests for dinner. For this reason, you must learn the essential words related to utensils on the table.
But what are utensils exactly? Listen carefully to their definition.
Houses and large apartments often have a dining room with a dining table that can seat many people. Dining rooms are sometimes used for everyday meals, but often they're only used for big family gatherings, dinner parties, or formal meals. If you're hosting a meal like this, you'll probably use your best set of dinnerware and cutlery. Before your guests arrive, you'll need to set the table.
Have you ever set the table? Where do you start?
It is recommended to begin by covering the table with a tablecloth and then place a centerpiece, such as candle sticks or a flower arrangement, in the middle of the table. Then arrange place settings around the table, making sure there's a place for everyone, including yourself. Then it is time to place cutlery and other elements.
What is cutlery?
Cutlery is a collective noun. Cutlery refers to the collective name of knives, forks, and spoons considered together. Cutlery comprises any hand-held implement for eating or serving food.
Knives + forks + spoons + teaspoons = cutlery
Also note the order when we say knives and forks. The word knives is before the word forks. We don’t say forks and knives (in that order) because it sounds strange.
Look at some examples of cutlery that you commonly find at a table.
It includes various spoons, forks, knives, and tongs. It is also called silverware or flatware. Cutlery is made of metals like stainless steel or silver.
Plates are other important elements in the table. Take a look at the essential ones during a formal meal.
The next step to place settings for formal dinners usually would be:
Depending on your menu, you could add more items to your setting. For example, you can add a saucer (a small plate for a cup), a teaspoon (a smaller spoon than the soup spoon), a dessert fork and spoon, or a side plate with a butter knife on top of it.
Now it is time to put into practice what you’ve learned so far. Instructions: Click on the recording icon, then read the sentences below. Check your score at the end.
If you're serving tea or coffee after the meal, bring cups and saucers as well as a sugar bowl, teaspoons and a small jug of milk or cream to the table.
Let’s review where to place cutlery while setting a formal table and some more technical vocabulary.
In the same way, it can be very helpful to know that some utensils can be found in the kitchen. A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation in a dwelling or a commercial establishment. There are many different types of kitchen appliances and kitchen utensils that are used in the kitchen. Let’s review some of them!
Here you have some of the most common kitchen appliances.
Look for examples of kitchen app using the previous concepts.
Read the following conversation with examples of kitchen appliances.
Look at the following examples of kitchen tools.
Here you have some other examples of kitchen appliances.
The Head Chef Dan is showing a new commis chef around the kitchen. Listen to some examples using the previous vocabulary.
Listen one more time to the audio “The new commis”. Write down examples of kitchen appliances that you could hear. Then click on the button to check your answers.
Now it’s time to check some of the most common kitchen tools.
While success in cooking depends on multiple factors, the utensils' importance must not be overlooked. Each cooking utensil is fitted to its particular use; in fact, the wrong kind of pan, dish, or another utensil will not bring the same result as the right one. This does not mean that a large supply of every kind of utensil transforms you into an expert. For really, the expert cook is known by the best utensils to cover the cookers necessities.
Modern kitchens are also full of kitchenware of two basic kinds; cookware, meaning pots, pans and cooking dishes, and kitchen utensils like kitchen knives and stirring spoons. Many different kinds of cookware are used in different parts of the world, but the most common include:
Look at the examples using the previous concepts.
Cookware that's only used in an oven is called ovenware. It includes metal baking trays, cake tins, roasting pans, as well as heatproof ceramic or glass casserole dishes, pie dishes, and other ovenproof cooking dishes.
Here you have some examples of ovenware.
Now it’s time to practice what you learned about kitchen tools and appliances. Read the sentences and complete the missing information using today’s vocabulary.
Common kitchen utensils found in most homes include:
Look at the following comic that contains examples of sentences including vocabulary related to kitchen tools and appliances.
Let’s put into practice your reading skills. Read the text below, called "Importance of specific kitchen utensils.” Did you know all this information?
Importance of specific kitchen utensils
Utensils are built to make your cooking experience as perfect and easy as possible. There are so many utensils that can be used in the kitchen, and there is a reason behind that. One of the main reasons for this is that each cooking utensil is fitted to a particular use, and if you use the wrong utensil for a specific food, it might not bring about the same result as the right one.
Knowing the material the utensil is made of is also essential, as well as the size, for your food to come out as desired. Utensils can affect one’s health because some materials are more challenging to clean than others and can contain some germs on the surface, which can lead to illness. An example of this would be to avoid cross-contamination by using separate cutting boards for raw meat and fresh produce. It is also said that once wooden boards develop hard-to-clean grooves, they should be discarded because they are great spots for bacteria to hide and later contaminate your food.
Teflon is a brand name for a nonstick coating on pots and pans and should only be used at low or medium heat because the fumes released when used in high temperatures can irritate humans and household pets. Another material to look out for is copper because unlined cookware can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The norovirus is one of the leading causes of food poisoning and often results in symptoms similar to the “stomach flu.” This virus can be avoided by washing vegetables and fruits before using utensils on them.
Read one more time the text "Importance of specific kitchen utensils’’ and answer the following questions.
Other items found in kitchens include:
Do you still have any doubts about food and beverages? Now, Miss Leynani, an expert in English, will talk to you about the most common utensils on the table and kitchenware.
Utensils on the table and kitchenware
As you can see there’s a lot of vocabulary related to the kitchen. For this reason, it is important that you practice every day so you become a master of this language. Keep up all the excellent work!
Before finishing this lesson, let’s double-check today’s topic.
A utensil is a tool you can hold in your hand and use around the house. In the kitchen, common utensils are knives, forks, and spoons that we hold in our hands and use to eat.
Cutlery is a collective noun. Cutlery refers to the collective name of knives, forks, and spoons considered together. Cutlery comprises any hand-held implement for eating or serving food.
In most kitchens, you can find various tools and appliances; learning them by heart will help you easily identify which one you need. The easiest way to learn vocabulary from today’s lesson is to practice daily. Remember mastering any topic comes after practicing. Keep up all the good work!
It is time to review the most important concepts of this lesson. Did you pay attention? Show your potential!
Instructions: Read the questions and answer by choosing the best option.
