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Unit 05 · Pages 56–66

Food I Love and Food I EatCuntada Aan Jeclahay

Talk about food you like, describe a dish, and order a meal.

  • I can say what food I like and dislike.
  • I can order a meal in a restaurant.
Audio for this unit (12)

Goals for this unit

  • New language Likes and dislikes; describing food; ordering a meal
  • Aa Vocabulary Somali and international foods, drinks, and taste adjectives
  • New skill Describing your favourite dish and ordering food in English

Sections in this unit

  1. 5.1Expressing likes and dislikesKey Language56
  2. 5.2Expressing likes and dislikesFurther Examples56
  3. 5.3Likes and dislikesHow to Form56
  4. 5.4Complete each sentence with the correct formExercise57
  5. 5.5Listen and match each person to their favourite foodListening57
  6. 5.6Use the chart to make 12 sentences about foodSpeaking58
  7. 5.7Describing food: "It's made of…" / "It tastes a bit like…"Key Language58
  8. 5.8Syllable stress in food wordsPronunciation59
  9. 5.9Listen and fill in the gapsListening59
  10. 5.10Describe your favourite dishSpeaking60
  11. 5.11Ordering a meal: "Can I have…, please?"Key Language60
  12. 5.12Ordering a mealFurther Examples61
  13. 5.13Put the conversation in the correct orderExercise61
  14. 5.14"At the Restaurant" — role-play chartSpeaking361

RevisionKu celi

5.1 Expressing likes and dislikes

MaryanI love canjeero — that is a thin, spongy Somali flatbread — for breakfast every morning!

YukiI have never tried canjeero. In Japan, I love eating rice with miso soup.

MaryanRice for breakfast? I like rice, but I usually have it for lunch. Do you like spicy food?

YukiI like some spicy food, but I can't stand very hot chillies. What about you?

MaryanI love spicy food! But I don't like sour drinks. I always drink shaah caano — that is milk tea — with my meals.

YukiMilk tea sounds wonderful. I hate eating alone, so I am very happy we are having lunch together!

  • NOTE: "I love canjeero" — love + noun. The noun comes directly after the verb.
  • NOTE: "I love eating rice" — love + verb-ing. Add -ing when another action follows.
  • NOTE: "I can't stand very hot chillies" — can't stand + noun. A strong way to say you dislike something.

5.2 Expressing likes and dislikes

  • NOTE: Items 3 and 6 use verb + -ing after the like/dislike expression: hates eating, likes trying.
  • NOTE: "It's delicious!" is a natural, positive follow-up. Use it when you taste something you love.

5.3 Likes and dislikes

  • NOTE: After love, like, hate, and can't stand, you can use a noun OR a verb ending in -ing. Both are correct.
  • NOTE: With he/she/it, add -s to the verb: She loves… / He doesn't like… / She can't stand…
  • NOTE: "Can't stand" is stronger than "don't like." It means you really dislike something.

5.6 Use the chart to make 12 sentences about food

  • NOTE: Choose one item from each column. Column 4 is optional. When the subject is "my friend" or "my family," change the verb: My friend loves… / My family hates…

5.7 Describing food: "It's made of…" / "It tastes a bit like…"

YukiMaryan, what is canjeero? I see it on the menu but I don't know it.

MaryanCanjeero is a Somali flatbread. It's made of fermented flour and water. It is soft and round.

YukiWhat does it taste like?

MaryanIt tastes a bit like a thin pancake, but it is a little sour. I love it!

YukiOh! What do you usually have it with?

MaryanI usually have it with honey and shaah caano. Sometimes I have it with a meat stew.

YukiThat sounds delicious! And what is bariis iskashis?

MaryanIt tastes a bit like biryani. It's made of rice, spices, and meat — often goat or lamb. I usually have it with a cold drink. It is a little spicy but very filling.

  • NOTE: "It's made of" tells us the ingredients. Follow it with a noun phrase: It's made of flour, water, and salt.
  • NOTE: "It tastes a bit like" compares a new food to something familiar. Use a food name or an adjective.
  • NOTE: "I usually have it with" tells us what we eat alongside this food. Use a noun: I usually have it with tea.

5.8 Syllable stress in food words

  • NOTE: Canjeero: stress the middle syllable — can-JEE-ro. Many Somali speakers naturally stress this syllable, so the pattern will feel familiar.
  • NOTE: Sambuus: stress the second syllable — sam-BUUS. Hold the vowel sound a little longer on the stressed syllable.

5.9 Listen and fill in the gaps

MaryanIn the morning, I always have canjeero. It ①_____ of fermented flour and water. It ②_____ a bit like a pancake — but thinner and a little sour.

YukiOh, that's interesting! I ③_____ pancakes too. In Japan, we often have rice for breakfast. It ④_____ delicious with miso soup.

MaryanWhat ⑤_____ in miso soup?

YukiIt's made of tofu and seaweed. It ⑥_____ a bit salty. I ⑦_____ have it with green tea.

MaryanI have shaah caano with my canjeero. We both love a warm drink in the morning!

YukiYes! And our breakfasts are different, but ⑧_____ both warm and filling.

MaryanI ⑨_____ that is true all over the world.

5.10 Describe your favourite dish

  • NOTE: Use taste adjectives to make your description interesting: delicious, spicy, sweet, salty, sour, filling, soft, crispy, warm.

5.11 Ordering a meal: "Can I have…, please?"

MuktarGood afternoon! Welcome. What would you like to order?

HodanGood afternoon. Can I have bariis iskashis, please?

MuktarOf course. Would you like a drink with that?

HodanYes, please. Can I have shaah caano? What's in it?

MuktarShaah caano — our Somali milk tea — it's made of strong tea, fresh milk, and a little sugar. It's sweet and warm.

HodanThat sounds lovely. Yes, shaah caano, please. And can I have sambuus too, as a starter?

MuktarCertainly! I'll bring the sambuus first.

HodanThank you. It's delicious! I'm full, thank you — it was a wonderful meal.

  • NOTE: "Can I have…, please?" is the most common polite way to order food in English. Always say please at the end.
  • NOTE: "What's in it?" is a natural way to ask about the ingredients of a dish.
  • NOTE: "I'm full, thank you" is a polite way to say you have eaten enough. Use it at the end of a meal.

5.12 Ordering a meal

AbdiExcuse me. Can I have muufo — a thick Somali corn flatbread — please?

YasminOf course. Would you like it with honey or with a meat stew?

LiamHello. Can I have pasta with tomato sauce, please?

FarahCertainly! And would you like something to drink?

AminaGood morning. Can I have canjeero with honey, please?

AliOf course. I'll bring it right away.

PriyaThank you so much — it was all delicious. I'm full, thank you!

MohamedI'm very glad! Please come back soon.

5.14 "At the Restaurant" — role-play chart

MaryanHave you ever tried canjeero?

YukiIt's delicious! It's soft and a little sour. What's in it?

MaryanIt's made of fermented flour. I love eating it in the morning, but it is good any time.

YukiThis is onigiri — it's made of rice and a little salt, with tuna inside. It tastes a bit salty and fresh. Try some!

MaryanI like it very much. It is simple but filling — like canjeero!

YukiI think good food is the same everywhere.

MaryanAnd so is a good lunch partner.

  • NOTE: After the first round, swap roles. The student who was the customer is now the waiter.
  • NOTE: After the survey, share one interesting answer with the class. Use: "[Name] loves…" or "[Name] can't stand…"
  • NOTE: Use words like delicious, spicy, sweet, salty, sour, filling, warm, soft, crispy. Make your dish sound wonderful!
  • NOTE: Compare texture, occasion, ingredients, or who eats it and when. Use: "Both are made of…" / "Both are eaten for…" / "Both taste a bit like…"