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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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1

GLOSSARY

Worcestershire sauce – a fermented (using microorganisms (very small living
things) to change something chemically) liquid made with vinegar, sugar, salt,
anchovies (small fish), garlic, and other spices, often used when cooking beef
* This beef stew would taste a lot better if you add some Worcestershire sauce.

burger – hamburger; a hot sandwich made by placing a patty of ground beef
between two parts of a large round roll (bread) with vegetables and condiments
* After the baseball game, they went out for burgers and fries.

hot dog – a hot sandwich made by placing a sausage between the two halves of
a long bun (bread) with condiments
* Whenever they go camping, they eat hot dogs, watermelon, and marshmallows.

ketchup – a thick, red sauce made from tomato sauce, vinegar, sugar, salt, and
other spices, often eaten with French fries
* Do you like to put ketchup on your scrambled eggs?

mustard – a thick, spicy yellow or brown sauce made from mustard seeds,
vinegar, salt, and other spices
* Shelby cooks pork chops with a mixture of spicy mustard, honey, and
rosemary.

mayonnaise – a thick, white, creamy sauce made by mixing oil, egg yolks (the
yellow part of an egg), vinegar, lemon juice, and spices
* To make tuna salad, just mix two cans of tuna with some mayonnaise, chopped
green onion, and chopped cucumber.

barbecue sauce – a thick, dark brown liquid that is sweet, used to cook meat
over a flame, usually made from tomato paste, vinegar, sugar, and spices
* Like many kids, Kian likes to dip his chicken nuggets in honey or barbecue
sauce.

to miss out – to not experience something; to not have an opportunity to see or
do something that is good or pleasurable
* Beatrix really missed out on a lot of fun by deciding to stay home and study last
Friday instead of going out with all of us.

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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steak sauce – a dark brown sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, raisins, and
other spices, often used on steak
* When Chuck had to stop eating meat for health reasons, he tried flavoring tofu
with steak sauce.

horseradish – a thick, spicy, off-white colored sauce made from vinegar and the
root of the horseradish plant
* Aubrey loves adding horseradish to mashed potatoes to make them more
interesting.

tartar sauce – a thick, creamy, white sauce that is often eaten with fried seafood,
made from mayonnaise, lemon juice, chopped pickles, and other ingredients
* Fried shrimp has a lot of fat, and dipping it in tartar sauce adds even more
calories and fat.

a dab of – a little bit of; the amount of something dropped from one spoon onto a
plate or another food
* They put a dab of whipped cream on each slice of cake.

chili sauce – hot sauce; a spicy, red liquid made from spicy peppers, vinegar,
salt, and other ingredients
* Leo put so much chili sauce on his food that he thought his mouth was on fire!

disgusting – gross; revolting; very unappealing; making one feel sick or
nauseous
* Don’t eat food that has fallen onto the ground. That’s disgusting!

maple syrup – a thick, sweet, brown liquid made from the sap (liquid inside a
tree) of maple trees, often eaten on pancakes, French toast, and other breakfast
foods
* Do you want maple syrup or blackberry syrup on your pancakes?

revolting – disgusting; gross; very unappealing and making one want to throw
up
* Eating bugs may seem revolting, but they are a very good and inexpensive
source of protein.

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. Which of these sauces is most commonly eaten with seafood?
a) Barbecue sauce
b) Tartar sauce
c) Chili sauce

2. Which of these sauces is the spiciest?
a) Ketchup
b) Steak sauce
c) Horseradish

______________


WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to miss out
The phrase “to miss out,” in this podcast, means to not experience something, or
to not have an opportunity to see or do something that is good or pleasurable: “I
know you’re on a diet, but don’t you want to try this cake? You’re missing out!”
The phrase “to miss the point” means to not understand someone’s main idea:
“When you focus on such tiny details, you miss the point!” The phrase “to miss
the boat” means to not take advantage of an opportunity: “We really missed the
boat when we chose not to invest in our computer company 20 years ago.”
Finally, the phrase “to miss the mark” means to not reach one’s goals or to not be
successful: “Last year, our sales figures missed the mark, so we’ll have to try
twice as hard this year.”

a dab of
In this podcast, the phrase “a dab of” means a little bit of, or the amount of
something dropped from one spoon onto a plate or another food: “Add a dab of
honey to sweeten the batter.” Or, “Do you want a dab of butter on your toast?” As
a verb, “to dab at (something)” means to touch something lightly or gently,
especially with a cloth: “Hazel looked in the mirror and dabbed her lipstick with a
tissue.” Finally, the phrase “to dab (something) onto (something)” means to put
something onto a surface with many quick movements: “Dab this anti-wrinkle
cream under your eyes before bedtime each night.” Or, “The mechanic dabbed
some oil onto the axel to make it turn more smoothly.”

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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CULTURE NOTE

The Development of Ketchup

Ketchup has a long “culinary” (related to food and cooking) history, and it has
“undergone” (experienced) many changes over time. A “recipe” (instructions for
making a particular type of food) for the tomato-based ketchup that most
Americans are familiar with today first appeared in writing in a cookbook in 1801.
But ketchup was not sweetened until the 19

th

century.

For many years, Americans feared that “raw” (uncooked) tomatoes were not safe
for “consumption” (eating). They preferred to cook their tomatoes, so ketchup “fit
the bill” (seemed appropriate and met their needs). Ketchup was first distributed
nationally in the 1830s, and the popular Heinz brand first appeared in 1876. Early
advertisements presented “commercial” (made by a company) ketchup as a
“time-saver” (something that makes a process faster and easier) for
“housewives” (women who do not have a job outside of the home).

Today, food manufacturers continue to “innovate” (make changes and try new
ways of doing things) with ketchup products. For example, in 2000, Heinz
launched ketchup in bright colors, including green and pink. Many children liked
the brightly colored ketchup, but the product was “phased out” (discontinued; no
longer available) in 2006. Companies are also innovating in terms of the
packaging. Ketchup used to be sold in glass bottles, but it was difficult to get all
the ketchup out of the bottle. So companies put ketchup into squeezable plastic
bottles, and then they changed the direction of the label so that the opening was
at the bottom. That way, the ketchup is always resting against the opening and it
is easier to squeeze out.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – b; 2 – c

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 1,027 – Adding
Condiments to Food.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 1,027. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at ESLPod.com. Become a member of ESL Podcast. You can
also take a look at our ESL Podcast Store for some additional courses in
Business and Daily English, and if you’re on Facebook – and who isn’t? – go to
Facebook.com/eslpod and like us. (We like you, too.)

In this episode, we’re going to listen to a dialogue between Orlando and Janine
about making your food taste better by adding condiments. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Orlando: Hand me that Worcestershire sauce.

Janine: Here. You’re not putting that on your burger, are you?

Orlando: No, I’m using it for my hot dog.

Janine: Wait. You’ve put ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce on
your burger, and now you’re going to put Worcestershire sauce on your hot dog?

Orlando: Sure, you’ve got to have Worcestershire sauce on your hot dog.

Janine: No, I don’t. I don’t know anybody else who puts Worcestershire sauce on
their hot dogs.

Orlando: You’re missing out. I just need to add a little steak sauce, horseradish,
tartar sauce, and a dab of chili sauce, and this hot dog is ready to eat.

Janine: That sounds disgusting! Is there anything you won’t put on your food?

Orlando: On this food? Maybe maple syrup.

Janine: What?! You’re the one missing out. Hand me that syrup.

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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Orlando: That is truly revolting!

Janine: To each his own.

[end of dialogue]

Orlando begins this dialogue by saying to Janine, “Hand me that Worcestershire
sauce.” “Worcestershire (Worcestershire) sauce (sauce)” is a special kind of
liquid made from vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic, what are called “anchovies” – which
are basically small fish – and it is used often in cooking beef. Notice that the
pronunciation of this word is not like the spelling. You would think it would be
pronounced something like “Worchestershire” sauce, but it isn’t. It is from the
town of “Worcester” in England, and that’s how it’s pronounced.

So, we say “Worcestershire sauce.” Personally, I don’t really like it, but Orlando
does, so Janine says to Orlando, “Here,” meaning “Here, take it.” She’s giving
him the bottle. Janine says, “You’re not putting that on your burger, are you?”
“Burger” (burger) is the same as “hamburger” – a beef patty that is very popular
in the U.S. and other countries. Orlando says, “No, I’m using it for my hot dog.”

A “hot dog” is basically a small sausage that is usually placed inside of a piece of
bread called a “bun.” We have “hot dog buns” – bread that is made especially for
eating hot dogs – and “hamburger buns.” Janine says, “Wait, you put ketchup,
mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce on your burger, and now you’re
going to put Worcestershire sauce on your hot dog?”

Janine mentions several different things that Orlando has put on his hamburger.
All of these things that we’ve been talking about, including Worcestershire sauce,
are called in general “condiments” (condiments). These are things you put on
your food to make them taste better, usually after it is cooked. Some examples of
condiments are mentioned here: ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue
sauce.

“Ketchup” (ketchup) is a thick red sauce made from tomatoes, vinegar, salt,
sugar, and a few other things, that is usually used in the U.S. when you are
eating French fries. Some people, like me, love eating French fries, which are
deep-fried pieces of potato, with ketchup. Many people, including me, also like to
put ketchup on a hamburger to improve its taste.

“Mustard” (mustard) is a thick yellow or brown sauce that is made from mustard
seeds as well as vinegar, salt, and a few other things. “Mayonnaise”
(mayonnaise) is a thick, white, creamy sauce made by mixing oil and the yellow

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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part of an egg – what we call the “egg yolk” (yolk) – vinegar, lemon juice, and a
few other things together, and it produces something wonderful called
“mayonnaise.”

Finally, there is “barbecue (barbecue) sauce.” Barbecue sauce is a thick, dark
brown liquid that is usually sweet and is used to cook certain kinds of meat on
what we call a “barbecue,” which is basically an open flame with a “grill” over it –
a series of metal bars that you put the food on. You can put barbecue sauce on
chicken, on pork ribs – the piece of meat that comes from a pig. Lots of different
things can be used with barbecue sauce. It’s very popular in the U.S. for grilling
food outside, especially.

Orlando says, “Sure, you’ve got to have Worcestershire sauce on your hot dog.”
Now, I personally never eat this kind of sauce, I think I mentioned, but Orlando
wants it on his hot dog. Janine disagrees with Orlando. She says, “No, I don’t,”
meaning “I don’t have to have that sauce on my hot dog.” She continues, “I don’t
know anybody else who puts Worcestershire sauce on their hot dogs.”

Orlando says, “You’re missing out.” “To miss (miss) out” is to not to experience
something – not to have an opportunity to do something or see something that is
good or pleasurable. “I missed out on the baseball game last night.” I didn’t have
an opportunity to see it. “To miss out” is to lose an opportunity to see or
participate in something good. Orlando is telling Janine that she is missing out on
the great taste of putting this sauce on hot dogs.

He continues, “I just need to add a little steak sauce, horseradish, tartar sauce,
and a dab of chili sauce, and this hot dog is ready to eat.” Orlando gives us
another list of condiments that are common with some Americans. The first one
is “steak sauce.” “Steak sauce” is a dark brown sauce – made from tomatoes,
vinegar, I think raisins, and a few other things – that is sometimes used on steak.

Now, many people think that steak sauce ruins the taste of steak. Other people
think that it helps the taste of steak, especially if the steak is somewhat
overcooked, I think. I don’t personally use steak sauce on my steak, but if you go
to some restaurants in the U.S., they will give you steak sauce with your steak if
you want it.

“Horseradish” (horseradish) is a thick, somewhat spicy, white-colored sauce – or,
it’s not exactly white, but it’s close to white. It’s made from vinegar and the part of
a plant called “horseradish.” There’s a horseradish plant, which I believe is a kind
of cabbage. Horseradish sauce is very popular on hot dogs in the U.S. Again, I
don’t like it very much, so I don’t put anything on my hot dogs like horseradish.

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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“Tartar (tartar) sauce” is a thick, creamy, white sauce that is often used with fried
seafood – things like fried fish. It’s made from mayonnaise, lemon juice, I believe
there’s some pickles in there, as well as other ingredients. Tartar sauce is very
common when eating fried fish.

“Chili sauce” is the last thing that Orlando mentions. “Chili (chili) sauce” is a hot
sauce usually made from spicy peppers as well as vinegar, salt, and a few other
things. It’s usually red. If you like your food spicy, and I don’t, then you could put
a dab of chili sauce on it. “A dab” (dab) of something is a little bit. It’s a small
amount of something.

Janine, however, says to Orlando, “That sounds disgusting.” When we say
something is “disgusting” (disgusting), we mean it is very unappealing. It’s
something that would make you sick. It’s something that we might also describe
as being “gross” (gross). It’s a very negative way to describe food, in particular.
Janine says, “Is there anything you won’t put on your food?”

Orlando says, “On this food?” He says, “Maybe maple syrup.” “Maple” (maple) is
a kind of tree which is very popular in Canada. In fact, one of the symbols of
Canada, our neighbor to the north, is a maple leaf from the maple tree. From a
maple tree, you get something called “maple syrup” (syrup), which is a thick,
sweet, brown liquid that is made from maple trees – technically from what is
called the “sap” (sap) of a maple tree, which is the liquid inside of a tree.

Maple syrup is often used on breakfast dishes such as pancakes, French toast,
and other kinds of breakfast foods. It’s very sweet. Orlando says he wouldn’t put
maple syrup on his hot dog or hamburger. Janine is surprised by this. She says,
“What? You’re the one missing out,” meaning now you are the one who is
missing a good opportunity to taste something good. She says, “Hand me that
syrup.”

So Janine, after complaining about all the things that Orlando is putting on his
food, is now going to put maple syrup on her hamburger or hot dog. Now that
really is very unusual, and Orlando describes how the average American would
probably react to that combination of beef and maple syrup by saying, “That is
truly revolting.” “Revolting” (revolting) means the same as here as “disgusting” –
something that is very gross, especially, again, referring to food.

Janine then ends with a common expression: “To each his own.” “To each his
own” means everybody likes something different. Each person has his or her

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

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own tastes and what you may like, I may hate. This is true with my wife and me.
If she likes something, I usually hate it when it comes to food.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

Orlando: Hand me that Worcestershire sauce.

Janine: Here. You’re not putting that on your burger, are you?

Orlando: No, I’m using it for my hot dog.

Janine: Wait. You’ve put ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and barbecue sauce on
your burger, and now you’re going to put Worcestershire sauce on your hot dog?

Orlando: Sure, you’ve got to have Worcestershire sauce on your hot dog.

Janine: No, I don’t. I don’t know anybody else who puts Worcestershire sauce on
their hot dogs.

Orlando: You’re missing out. I just need to add a little steak sauce, horseradish,
tartar sauce, and a dab of chili sauce, and this hot dog is ready to eat.

Janine: That sounds disgusting! Is there anything you won’t put on your food?

Orlando: On this food? Maybe maple syrup.

Janine: What?! You’re the one missing out. Hand me that syrup.

Orlando: That is truly revolting!

Janine: To each his own.

[end of dialogue]

If you’re not listening to the dialogues by our scriptwriter, Dr. Lucy Tse, you’re
definitely missing out on a wonderful opportunity to improve your English.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Thank you for listening. Come
back and listen to us again right here on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast

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ESL Podcast 1027 – Adding Condiments to Food

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

10

English as a Second Language Podcast was written and produced by Dr. Lucy
Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2014 by the Center for Educational
Development.