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Views #1280 | Intermediate (B1)

Home Cooking

Vesna and Karlo share their thoughts on cooking and what makes a good chef.

Vesna: Tell me something about the cuisine you prefer?

Karlo: My favorite kind is my mum's cooking. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. I'm used to and prefer Mediterranean cuisine. I love food to be healthy cooked and try to hold onto my eating schedules.

Vesna: We all live a fast and busy life. Do you always manage to eat your meals on a schedule?

Karlo: No. The problem is that I don't always have opportunity to eat at certain timing due to the fast and dynamic lifestyle. I prefer eating several times a day, at least three or four times in smaller portions.

Vesna: And if you don't find the time, what is the alternative?

Karlo: Well certainly fast food is often an alternative or frozen vegetables, that can be a healthy substitute for other groceries.

Vesna: Well that's better, yeah.

Karlo: Yeah.

Vesna: When you eat at home, do you do your own cooking?

Karlo: Whenever I get the chance I cook for myself but if not I can always count on my mum or my girlfriend.

Vesna: So, sometimes you cook by yourself.

Karlo: Yeah.

Vesna: Are you a traditionalist or do you like experimenting with flavors?

Karlo: I love traditional dishes, don't get me wrong, but with a little thinking outside the box, you can add new tastes to the known meals. You know how all of the famous chefs are men?

Vesna: Yeah, I've noticed. What is your theory about it?

Karlo: My theory, somewhere I have heard that the reason for that is because men are more imaginative when it comes to cooking, maybe because [0:01:54.4] is in the traditional use of our society.

Vesna: And how did you figure this?

Karlo: In the minds of a great deal of people, they just feel a deep tradition. But it's a woman's job to cook. And maybe women see this as a navigation instead of a way to express themselves.

Vesna: Okay, let me ask you something. You are a young rock musician.

Karlo: Yeah.

Vesna: I know it's necessary to maintain an image in these circles, so does anybody poke you for ... or because of your cooking habit?

Karlo: No, no, no, my friends are ... and family are pretty cool about it. They all know and share my views about the fact that this is the era of individuality, and no thick male or female divisions.

Vesna: That's good to hear, definitely, yeah. So well one more question in the end. Name me your favorite meal?

Karlo: My favorite meal, my favorite food is chicken in all variations, combined with Italian pasta for example.

Vesna: Well, let's talk about simplicity.

Karlo: Yeah.

Vesna: Yeah, okay, thank you very much.

Karlo: You're welcome.

Answer these questions about the interview.
Audio Lessons about Phrases and Vocabulary

alternative

notes What is the alternative?

An alternative is another choice. Notice the following:

  1. I like alternative rock.
  2. Alternative medicine is getting very popular.

substitute

notesThat can be a healthy substitute for other groceries.

A subistute is a replacement for something else. Notice the following:

  1. We had a substitute teacher today.
  2. Corn syrup is a substitue for sugar.

whenever I get the chance

notesWhenever I get the chance, I cook for myself

We use this phrase to show we like to do something, but do not usually have time to do it. Notice the following:

  1. Whenever I get the chance, I call home.
  2. I try to catch up on the news whenever I get the chance.

count on

notesI can always count on my mum or my girlfriend.

When you count on someone, you can rely on then or trust them to do something. Notice the following:

  1. You can never count on the buses to be on time.
  2. We can count on her to do a good job.

express (oneself)

notesWomen see as a way to express themselves.

When you express yourself, you share how you feel about life or certain topics. Notice the following:

  1. You can express yourself though art, music, or dance.
  2. He has a hard time expressing himself.

Vocabulary Quiz

alternative • substitute • count on
express • whenever
  1. I always exercise I get the chance.
  2. Honey is a good for sugar.
  3. It is hard to yourself in foreign language.
  4. One to taking the bus is taking a taxi.
  5. We can her to be on time.

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Hello, and welcome to elllo. My name is Todd Beuckens. I've been an ESL teacher for 25 years. I created elllo to provide teachers and students free audio lessons and learning materials not usually found in commercial textbooks.
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