ESL Podcast 714 - Dining with a Foodie
the latest thing - something that is new, exciting, interesting, and innovative; something that interests people because it is the beginning of a new trend or fad
This MP3 player is the latest thing for music lovers.
foodie - a person who is very interested in fine food and enjoys good meals and wines
If your favorite meal is eating hamburgers at McDonald's, you probably aren't a foodie.
to have an interesting take on - to have an interesting perspective, opinion, or belief; to have opinions that other people like to hear about
Yuki always has an interesting take on the latest movies.
passable - acceptable, but not excellent; something that is not bad, but is not very good either
The first draft of my essay was passable, but it needs a lot of editing.
run-of-the-mill - ordinary, not special; standard; typical
Jose Luis has decided to start his own business, because he doesn't want to work in his run-of-the-mill job anymore.
fine dining - the experience of eating very nice, expensive food in a restaurant that is fancier that what is normally served at home or in most restaurants
I love fine dining, but I hate getting dressed up to go to those restaurants.
gourmet - a person who is very knowledgeable about fine food and knows how to prepare it and/or enjoy eating it
Lynn is a gourmet baker who always has special ingredients in her kitchen.
to be bowled over - to be very impressed, amazed, shocked, or surprised by something
We were bowled over by the movie. It was so much better than we had expected!
seasoned - having a different flavor because many herbs and spices have been added; flavored with small leaves and seeds
Pork chops are delicious when they are seasoned with rosemary and mustard.
a touch - a little bit; slightly
The presentation was a touch rushed, but the information he presented was very clear.
overcooked - cooked for too much time, so that something becomes dry and tough
Fish fillets can become overcooked in just a few minutes. It doesn't need to be in the oven for very long.
pairing - two things that are served together or eaten together
Most people recommend a white wine pairing with seafood dishes.
aficionado - someone who is passionate about something, enjoys it very much, and has a lot of knowledge about it
Shelley is a movie aficionado. She watches all the movies at the theater and then watches them again in her home on DVD.
palate - the parts of one's mouth that perceive different flavors in food and drinks; the ability to perceive small differences in the way things taste
Marco used to enjoy eating fine foods, but years of eating only junk food has ruined his palate.
sophisticated - elegant, fancy, rich, and with style; associated with high education, culture, and wealth
Bianca wants to go on a sophisticated cruise in the Bahamas, but I'd rather spend the week fishing at the lake.
forgettable - something that was not very good or interesting and will not be remembered; something that is not worth thinking about again
The actors in the play were good, but the play itself was forgettable.
to leave a bad taste in (one's) mouth - to give someone a bad impression; to not be perceived favorably; to make someone feel unpleasant or uncomfortable
These transactions may be legal, but they leave a bad taste in my mouth.