Whenitcomestocuisine,manyofuslovetoexploredifferenttypesoffoodfromaroundtheworld.Someofusmayhaveeventraveledtodifferentcountriesandsampledlocaldishes.However,itcanbedifficulttoorderfoodwhenyoudon’tspeakthelanguage.Inthisblogpost,wewillexploresomecommonterminologyrelatedtointernationalcuisinesothatyoucanorderconfidentlywhendiningout.
Firstly,let’sstartwithsomebasictermsforfoodinEnglish.InEnglish,foodisoftendividedintocategoriessuchasappetizers,entrees,anddesserts.Appetizers,alsoknownasstartersorhorsd’oeuvres,aredishesservedbeforethemaincourse,oftendesignedtostimulatetheappetite.Popularappetizersincludebruschetta,whichistoastedbreadtoppedwithtomatoes,herbs,andgarlic,andedamame,whichareboiledsoybeansservedwithsalt.
Entreesarethemaincourseofamealandareservedaftertheappetizers.Examplesofentreesincludesteak,fish,chicken,andpastadishes.Itisalsocommontofindvegetarianorveganoptionsinmanyrestaurants.Itisimportanttonotethatinsomecountries,maincoursedishesmaybereferredtoas“mains”insteadof“entrees.”
Lastly,dessertsarethesweetdishesservedattheendofameal.Examplesofdessertsincludecakes,icecream,andpies.Inadditiontoregulardesserts,youmayalsofindsomeuniqueoptionssuchascrèmebr?lée,whichisacreamycustardtoppedwithalayerofcaramelizedsugar.
Movingontointernationalcuisine,let’sexploresomecommondishesandtheirpronunciations.WhenitcomestoItaliancuisine,someclassicdishesincludespaghetticarbonara,whichispastaservedwithbacon,egg,andcheese,andmargheritapizza,whichispizzatoppedwithtomatosauce,mozzarellacheese,andbasil.
InJapanesecuisine,somepopulardishesincludesushi,whicharerollsofvinegaredricewithvariousfillings,andramen,whicharenoodlesinabrothservedwithtoppingssuchaspork,eggs,andvegetables.
ForMexicancuisine,somewell-knowndishesincludetacos,whicharesoftorhardshelltortillasfilledwithmeat,beans,cheese,andvegetables,andsalsa,whichisaspicysauceservedwithchipsorotherdishes.
Ofcourse,thisisjustasmallfractionofthenumerousinternationaldishesavailable.Itisalwayshelpfultoresearchthecuisineofaparticularcountrybeforetravelingordiningout.
Inconclusion,learningsomebasicterminologyforinternationalcuisinecangreatlyimproveyourdiningexperience.However,itisimportanttokeepinmindthatdifferentregionsandcountriesmayhavetheirownstylesandvariationsofthesedishes.Sodon’tbeafraidtoaskforrecommendationsandtrysomethingnew!
