A Festive Feast: Your Christmas Culinary Vocabulary Guide 🍽️🎄

Food is a universal language, but describing it in English—especially during the holidays—can be tricky! Since Christmas is just around the corner, we’re diving into the kitchen and the dining room to equip you with the culinary vocabulary you need to talk about baking, ordering, and enjoying the season’s delicious feasts.

This week, at The London Eye – English Consultant, we’ll make sure your English is as tasty as your Christmas dinner!

1. In the Kitchen: Essential Christmas Cooking Verbs

Holiday meals mean a lot of time spent cooking! Mastering these action verbs is crucial not just for reading recipes, but for describing the process to others.

Verb	Meaning	Christmas Example
To Bake	To cook food by dry heat without direct exposure to a flame (e.g., in an oven).	We need to bake the apple pie for forty minutes.
To Roast	To cook meat or vegetables uncovered in the oven, usually with fat.	The main dish is often roasted turkey or ham.
To Whisk	To beat or stir quickly with a whisk to incorporate air (e.g., eggs, cream).	Whisk the egg whites until they are fluffy for the meringue.
To Peel	To remove the skin or outer covering of a fruit or vegetable.	Don’t forget to peel the potatoes for the mash!
To Garnish	To decorate food with a small, appetizing item (e.g., parsley, a cherry).	We will garnish the pudding with a sprig of holly.

Your Quick Tip: Find a simple English recipe for a holiday cookie or dessert. Highlight all the action verbs you see!

2. At the Restaurant: Ordering with Confidence

Even during the holidays, you might be out for a celebratory meal. Use these phrases to manage ordering, asking about the food, and handling the bill smoothly.

Asking About the Food:

«Could you tell me what the specialty of the house is today?»
«What are the ingredients in this dish?» (Especially useful for checking allergies!)
«Is there a vegetarian/vegan option?»
«I’d like my steak cooked medium-rare, please.»

Handling the Bill:

«Excuse me, could we have the bill, please?» (The most common, polite way).
«We need to split the bill—can we pay separately?»
«Is the tip included?» (The tip is the extra money left for good service).

3. Food Idioms: Spicing Up Your English

English speakers love to use food to describe situations, moods, or people. These idioms will help you sound natural and fluent, especially around the dinner table!

Idiom	Meaning	Example Use
A piece of cake	Something very easy to do.	«Finishing my Christmas shopping was a piece of cake this year.»
To spill the beans	To reveal a secret or private information.	«Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party!»
To butter someone up	To flatter or praise someone to get something from them.	«He always butters up the boss before asking for a raise.»
To take with a grain of salt	To not completely believe something; to be skeptical.	«He exaggerates a lot, so take his story with a grain of salt.»
To be full of beans	To be very energetic and lively.	«The children are full of beans after eating all that candy!»

4. A Taste of the UK: Classic Cranachan Recipe 🍓🥃

This traditional Scottish dessert is simple, elegant, and packed with seasonal flavor—perfect for practicing your new cooking verbs!

Cranachan (pronounced kran-a-kun) is a celebratory pudding made with cream, whisky, honey, and raspberries.

Ingredients:

100g Oats (porridge oats)
250ml Double Cream (a very thick, rich cream)
2 tbsp Whisky (Scottish or Irish)
2 tbsp Honey
200g Fresh or frozen Raspberries

Instructions:

Toast the Oats: Spread the oats evenly on a baking tray. Bake them in the oven at 180°C for about 8 minutes until they are golden and smell nutty. Set aside to cool.
Sweeten the Cream: In a large bowl, whisk the double cream until it is thick and holds soft peaks. Gently fold in the honey and the whisky. To fold in means to mix gently, usually with a spatula, so you don’t lose the air you just whisked into the cream.
Prepare the Fruit: If using frozen raspberries, allow them to thaw. Lightly crush half of the raspberries with a fork.
Assemble and Garnish: To serve, layer the ingredients in a tall glass: start with a layer of raspberries, followed by the cream mixture, and then a sprinkle of toasted oats. Repeat the layers. Garnish the top with the remaining whole raspberries.
Chill: Chill the Cranachan in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

This holiday season, use your festive meals as a chance to practice! Describe the taste of your food, compliment the cook using strong adjectives, and use your new cooking verbs.

What holiday food idiom describes your energy level today? Share in the comments below!