Writing a Menu: How to Describe Food in English

⏱ 5 MIN · CEFR B1

Writing a Menu: How to Describe Food in English

📋 From my notebook:

At Popolo in Sydney, I helped rewrite part of the menu. The chef’s original line said: ‘Pasta with tomato sauce and herbs.’ I changed it to: ‘House-made fettuccine, slow-cooked San Marzano tomato, fresh basil.’ Same dish. Second version sold 40% more orders that week. Words create appetite.

🎯 By the end you will:

• Understand the formula for English menu descriptions
• Use adjectives of origin, preparation, and flavour
• Write a two-line menu description

📖 Menu description formula (B1):

Formula: [Preparation method] + [Main ingredient] + [Origin/type] + [Accompaniment]

Example: Slow-roasted free-range chicken, lemon thyme jus, seasonal greens.

Useful adjectives: house-made · wood-fired · pan-seared · oven-roasted · fresh · seasonal · local · artisan

✅ Quick check: Which is the best menu description style?

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✍️ Try it (2 min):

Write a two-line menu description for a dish from your country.
Use: [preparation] + [main ingredient] + [origin/type] + [accompaniment]

💡 Teacher’s tip:

Bring in two real menus — one plain, one descriptive. Ask students which restaurant they would choose and why. Language awareness through comparison is powerful.