XIII. Now think of three dishes that are popular in Russia but that foreign customers might not know.

Write short explanations of what they are.

XIV. Read out the dialogue and answer the ques­tions below.

Mr. and Mrs. Stanley are staying in the Metropol Hotel in Moscow and are ordering lunch in the restaurant at the hotel.

Waiter Good morning, madam. Good morning, sir.

Mrs. S. Good morning. Have you got a table for two, please?

Waiter Certainly. Where would you like to sit? By the win­dow of further back?

Mrs. S. I think we'd prefer by the window so that we can watch the people in the street.

Waiter Right. Won't you sit down?

Mr. S. Thank you very much. This is pleasant.

Waiter Yes, it's a beautiful day today. What would you like to order?

Mrs. S. Do you think you could explain the menu to us? You see, our French isn't good enough and we don't speak any Russian at all.

Waiter Of course. I'll give you an English-language menu and explain everything that might seem confusing. Here you are.

Mr. S. & Mrs. S. Thank you. What's for starters?

Waiter There are three types of salads or vegetable soup.

Which would you prefer? Mrs. S. I'd rather have a fish salad with grilled tomatoes, it

sounds very good.

Mr. S. Vegetable soup for me, please? Waiter Certainly. And for the main course there's grilled ba­con, chicken or steak. Mr. S. Well, bacon is a bit spicy* for me. I think Г11 have the

steak.

Mrs. S. Steak for me, too, please. Waiter How would you like them cooked? Mrs. S. I don't like my steaks too underdone. Make mine well

done.

Mr. S. Rare for me, please.

Waiter Fine. What would you like to go with your steaks? Mrs. S. Chips and a green salad, please. Mr. S. I'll have chips. And peas, if you have them. Waiter Yes, that's fine. And what would you like to drink?

Bottled beer? Wine? Mrs. S. We like wine better. Waiter We have a very pleasant house wine served by the

carafe.*

Mr. S. Yes, I think a carafe of red would do nicely. Mrs. S. It isn't too dry, is it? Waiter No, no. It's a medium wine.

. Mrs. S. Good. We'll have that then. And also a bottle of min­eral water.

 

NOTES: a bit spicy несколько острый; островат

Carafe графин

Answer the questions:

Why does Mrs. Stanley prefer to sit by the window? Why does she ask the waiter to explain the menu? What does Mr. Stanley order for his first two courses? How do the Stanleys want their steaks cooked? What kind of red wine doesn't Mrs. Stanley like?

You have noticed already that many terms re­lated to restaurant business and meals are of French origin. Why do you think it is so?

Note down some more words and expressions of French origin:

 

1. a la carte menu ресторанное меню с указанием цены каждого блюда

2. gueridon service обслуживание у столика; приготовление блюд непосредственно на виду у посетителей

3. carafe, фр графин

4. table d'hote, фр общий обеденный стол; табльдот; комплексный обед

5. hors-d'oeuvre, фр. закуска; добавочное блюдо

6. aperitif, фр. аперитив