Topic For The Number Thirteen (Nov.14.2015)

안녕하세요.리더 알렉스 입니다. 다들 즐거운 한주 보내고 있나요? ^^토요일에 만나요. TOPIC 1. 8 Popular Types of Restaurants  Did You Know? The type of a restaurant is decided by the food that is served, the service that is provided, and the price of the menu. The reasons for eating at restaurants are so varied that it is rather an impossible task to list them. However, if one had to put it briefly, then eating out is usually a result of necessity, or a need to explore a new gastronomic dimension.   To enhance your own experience of dining, it is important to know what are the various types of restaurants. This way, the next time you are craving for a delectable dish, you will know exactly where to go, what to ask for, and how to enjoy it in the best possible way.  Fast Food Restaurants We can't live off them, and we cannot live without them! Yes, that is how addictive fast food restaurants are. We have all seen them, eaten at these joints, ended up becoming regular patrons, until we realized that our waistlines were increasing faster than our age.  They are known to serve their food quickly, typically between 1 to 3 minutes of placing an order. With such fast service, at affordable rates, it is not surprising that these type of restaurants are popular the world over.  Fast Casual Restaurants Fast casual restaurants offer little more of a dining experience than fast food restaurants. They position themselves somewhere between fast food restaurants and casual dining restaurants. These are especially popular amongst office goers, who can grab a decent meal between work hours.    Cafés A café is a type of a restaurant which does not offer any table service. The customers are expected to order food at the counter, pay while ordering, and serve themselves. These restaurants originated in Europe, with a strong French influence on the menu and ambiance. This type of restaurant is probably the cheapest in this list, as serving food is not their forte, but just coffee and some savories.  Casual Dining Restaurants Casual dining restaurants, also known as family restaurants, provide families with a relatively upscale, yet affordable, dining experience. The menu at these restaurants is moderately priced. They can serve multiple cuisines, or can specialize in one type of cuisine. These restaurants serve a full-course meal, with proper table service, and liquor too.  Buffet Restaurants Buffet restaurants are rather budget restaurants given the quantity of food they serve. With a fixed menu at a fixed price, these restaurants offer minimum or no table service. These are perfect restaurants for hosting parties for a large group, as meals here can be great value for money.  Pop-up Restaurants Pop-up restaurants are a fairly recent trend in the food world. The peculiarity of these restaurants is that they have unique locations and decor. They are not like other stereotypical restaurants that serve people. Old warehouses, garages, rooftops, and residential buildings are some out-of-the-box locations for these restaurants. The attractive aspect about these restaurants is that they come as a total surprise, and offer a truly different experience to their customers.  Pubs Traditionally, pubs were beer houses. However, in modern times, pubs have started serving all types of alcohol, non-alcoholic beverages, and food items. Pubs provide full table service and bar service to their customers. Music, casual decor, a dance floor, a projection screen, and a well-equipped bar are some of the important features of a pub. Pubs have a moderate price range for all the items they serve.  Fine Dining Restaurants Fine dining restaurants offer their customers an upscale and proper full-course meal experience. These restaurants try to create a classy atmosphere that speaks of immaculate taste, both in decor and food making. Right from crockery, cutlery, to the waiters, everything follows a code of conduct and strict uniformity.  So, these were the eight types of popular restaurants that are seen around the world. These broad types have further variations and sub types. For instance, a bistro is very similar to a café. There are slight changes, but the general idea of relaxed service remains the same. Despite the differences in the service and mode of operation, the common meeting point for all the restaurants around the world remains the same―providing customers with the best service and food.  Questions 1. How often do you eat out? 2. Where do you usually go when you eat out? 3. Did you enjoy eating out in other countries you have visited? Which country had the best food? 4. Which foods did you enjoy the most? 5. Have you ever worked in a restaurant? If so, what kind of restaurant?    How many different types of salad dressing can you name? 6. Do you worry about calories and fat content when you eat out? 7. Would you send a dish back if it did not taste good or if you received the wrong food? 8. In what ways have people's eating habits changed over the years? 9. Where was the best buffet you've ever eaten at? 10. Do you think this area has a good variety of foreign restaurants? Topic 2. TV programs  When I come home early, I catch prime time news shows, which air at 8 o’clock or 9 o’clock. On some nights, I tune into in-depth news programs that deal with various social issues. I also watch TV dramas when there is something interesting on. They are aired at 10 at night. On the weekends, I watch comedy shows. There are various genres. There are talk shows with multiple hosts and skit comedy programs. I also watch star audition programs or talent competition programs from time to time. When I miss a show I want to watch, I watch them through the VOD service. Question 1. How long do you watch TV for each day? What kind of programs do you usually watch? 2. What kinds of programs do you NOT like watching? Why is that? 3. What do you think about the TV addict? Do you have that kind of experience? 4. Talk about a recent episode of a show you regularly watch. What was it about? 5. Talk about a star audition program you have watched in the past. What did you think about it?