Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. legendary
    • ex. The Beatles is a legendary band that is famous all over the world.
  2. reopen
    • ex. The restaurant reopened last month after being closed since the pandemic.
  3. a cellar
    • ex. Shiela went down to the cellar to get a bottle of wine.
  4. renovation
    • ex. Our apartment needs renovation to improve the kitchen and bathroom.
  5. a signature dish
    • ex. The restaurant is known for its delicious signature dishes, including seafood pasta and fried turkey.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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The Tour d’Argent, a legendary restaurant in Paris, has reopened. It is known for its 320,000-bottle wine cellar, its popular duck dish, and its 441-year history. It claims to be Paris’ oldest restaurant. It first opened in 1582. Famous people, like King Henri IV, Louis XIV, Salvador Dalí, and Marilyn Monroe ate here. It also inspired the restaurant in the movie “Ratatouille.”

The Michelin-starred restaurant remains one of the most exclusive and expensive restaurants in Paris. Lunch costs €150 (about ¥23,300), while dinner starts at €360 (about ¥56,000). These prices don’t include the cost of fancy wines. The legendary restaurant also has options to enjoy the place without a full meal. There’s a morning lounge, an evening bar, and a bar on the roof with beautiful views during warmer months.

The Tour d’Argent–which means “Silver Tower”–went through renovation to adapt to modern times. Even after closing for 18 months, it received positive reviews for preserving its signature dishes and high-quality service. This year, it will offer a special experience: a close view of Notre Dame Cathedral and the Summer Olympics.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

The Tour d’Argent

  • Would you like to eat at exclusive restaurants like the Tour d’Argent? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The Tour d’Argent did some renovations to adapt to modern times. In your opinion, is it important for legendary restaurants, like the Tour d’Argent, to adapt to modern times? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Imagine you have a chance to go and visit the Tour d’Argent. What would you like to experience? Discuss.

Old Restaurants

  • In your opinion, should old restaurants remain in business? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What qualities do you think keep a restaurant running for a long time (ex. the taste of dishes stays the same, cheap food)? Discuss.
  • Which do you prefer: old restaurants or new restaurants? Why? Discuss.