Appetizer

This is food, served in small portions, that you have the option to order before you get your main dish. Examples of appetizers served at many American restaurants are: shrimp cocktail, fried calamari and Buffalo wings.

“Let’s get the chicken wings as an appetizer. ”

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Main Course

This is the main plate which usually consists of a meat, vegetable and a starch. Prices of a main course vary from about $7.00 to $35.00 at a fancy restaurant.

“On my birth day I go to my favorite restaurant and I get the T-bone steak for my main course. ”

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Entré e

This is a way to refer to the main course. It’s usually only called an entree at the fancier restaurants.

“I ordered the salmon as my entré e. ”

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Dish

Sometimes the main course will be called a “dish”. The waiter may say:

“This dish is served with steamed vegetables.”

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These next three expressions are words that you would use to explain to your waiter how you would like your meat cooked and prepared:

Rare

If you ask for your food cooked rare the meat will be red in the middle. Most restaurants won’t serve meat truly rare because of the chance that a guest could get sick, but if you like your meat served red this is how you should order it.

“I like my steak rare. I think it tastes better that way.”

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Medium Rare

This is a common way meat is served in a restaurant. Ordering your meat medium rare will get you meat that is just a little bit red in the center, but no to well done.

“I like my steak medium rare. I like it to be a little red in the middle, but not so red that it is juicy.”

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Well Done

Meat ordered well done will be cooked so there is no red. The meat will come out a little tough, but there isn’t much chance that you will get sick.

“Keep my steak on the grill. I like it well done. ”

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Blackened

If you order your meat blackened the chef will cook the meat at high heat in a lot of pepper and other spices. The meat, whether it is chicken or fish will have a black color when it is served. Ask your waiter if the dish is spicy!

“I asked for the blackened catfish. The fried catfish is good, but it is not as healthy.”

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Fried

Meat served fried is dipped in bread crumbs and cooked in oil. Fried chicken and chicken fried steak are popular fried meals along with just about any type of seafood fried.

“The fried shrimp are delicious.”

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Sauté ed

Usually means cooked in butter and some kind of sauce. Many restaurants will sautee food in a wine sauce.

“The chicken sauté ed in white wine sauce is fantastic.”

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