Lesson 4: Japanese Food Overseas
The beauty of Japanese food is its quality and simplicity.

I can discuss Japanese food overseas.

INTRODUCE

Japanese food is gaining popularity abroad, but many so-called Japanese restaurants serve food that looks very different from what’s served in the Land of the Rising Sun.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the first two expressions with your tutor and answer the questions. Then, guess the meaning of the third expression based on the clues provided.

    1. Subpar means below average.

    How was the play?

    I thought the lead actor’s performance was pretty subpar.

    Q: Which of the pictures shows a subpar food presentation? Why?

    A

    B

     

     

    2. The beauty of something is the good qualities of a thing that make it more desirable.

    I really don’t like the idea of brunch.

    Why not? The beauty of brunch is that you can sleep in late and still have pancakes!

    Q: Which of the pictures shows the beauty of doing your tasks in advance? Why?

    A

    B

     

     

    3.                                                                .

    You like that?

    Yeah, I love this westernized sushi! It has ham and cheese in it!

    Q: What do you think westernized means?

STEP B SPEAK YOUR MIND

Sometimes you want to share your honest opinion.

    How about this dress? What do you think?

    To tell you the truth, I don’t think the color suits you.

UNDERSTAND

SPEAKING

Hiromi is seeing her friend Danny, who she first met in Japan, for the first time in two years. They’re having lunch together at a Japanese restaurant in Vancouver.

Hiromi:

(takes a bite) This doesn’t taste like sushi!

Danny:

Yeah, I know it’s really different from the sushi in Japan. I honestly don’t know why. Maybe the chef thinks Canadians would prefer it this way, or maybe the chef isn’t very familiar with real Japanese food! I don’t think he’s Japanese.

Hiromi:

Ah, that could be why. But still, I’m not even sure there’s fish in the sushi I ate! I just tasted garlic and cream cheese and that’s it!

Danny:

I don’t know. Maybe they’re trying to hide the taste of subpar fish?

Hiromi:

All these sauces and toppings are ruining it! The beauty of Japanese food is its quality and simplicity.

Danny:

To tell you the truth, though, this is one of the most popular Japanese restaurants in the city.

Hiromi:

Seriously?! They don’t even have anything on their menu that I’d consider authentic Japanese food. Everything’s too westernized.

Danny:

Do you really think it’s that bad?

Hiromi:

Hmm… Well, it’s not really bad. It’s just weird. Like that pizza you saw in Tokyo last year! The corn, tuna, and mayo one.

Danny:

Oh yeah, that was really weird!

Hiromi:

(laughs) Now you know how I feel!

TRIVIA

While some westernized Japanese foods such as caterpillar rolls are well known even in Japan, many westernized dishes would shock most Japanese people. Some of the weirdest examples include chocolate sushi, mango sushi, blueberry cheese and banana rolls, and even cheese-and-raisin miso soup!

PRACTICE

Choose the sentences that best use the expressions.

1. __________.

  • This restaurant’s subpar service makes me so angry!
  • I love this restaurant’s subpar service!

 

2. __________.

  • The beauty of yoga is that all your muscles ache afterward.
  • The beauty of yoga is that you’re able to relax and exercise at the same time.

 

3. __________.

  • The buffet offers westernized Japanese desserts such as chocolate and peanut butter mochi.
  • The buffet offers westernized Japanese desserts such as red bean mochi.

 

4. __________.

  • No wonder this movie won so many awards – the acting is so subpar!
  • We should’ve chosen another movie – the acting is so subpar!

 

5. __________.

  • The beauty of making a detailed schedule is that it’s very time-consuming.
  • The beauty of making a detailed schedule is that you always know what you should be doing.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your Canadian roommate is planning a dinner for his/her Japanese partner. Help him/her decide exactly what to make.

Today's Expressions

  • subpar
  • the beauty of something
  • westernized

Speak Your Mind

  • To tell you the truth, …

Challenge 2

What do you think? What does your tutor think? Discuss.

If Time
Allows
1

WESTERNIZED FOOD
2

SUBPAR RESTAURANTS
1

WESTERNIZED FOOD

  1. How do you feel about westernized food?
  2. What’s the strangest westernized version of your country’s food that you’ve ever seen?
  3. Are some westernized foods more delicious than the authentic versions?

2SUBPAR RESTAURANTS

  1. If the food at a restaurant were subpar, would you complain about it?
  2. Why do you think some restaurants serve subpar food?
  3. If you owned a restaurant and someone complained that your food was subpar, what would you do?

FEEDBACK

I can discuss Japanese food overseas.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK