B1 · Intermediate · Networking · 194 words · ~2 min read

🎩 The Eccentric Food Critic

Language focus: Networking · expressing preferences

The Secret Recipe of Borough Market

Cornelius Pemberton was Borough Market’s most feared food critic — eccentric, brutally honest, and famously difficult to please. Everyone agreed that he was a tough nut to crack. If anyone in London knew about the secret ingredient, however, it was almost certainly him.

Nadia showed up at his table with a basket of her very best pastries. Pemberton raised a single eyebrow. “Most bakers try to flatter me,” he said coolly. “It rarely works, I’m afraid.” Undeterred, Nadia simply asked him what he honestly thought of her baking.

He tasted one pastry in silence, then slowly reached for another. “Hmm. The texture is good, but it lacks the warmth your grandmother’s had. I have a terrible sweet tooth, you understand, and hers could win absolutely anyone over.” Bit by bit, his frosty manner began to thaw, and he opened up a little.

“Very well,” he said at last. “Your grandmother’s secret came from a spice merchant down by the river. I shan’t tell you which one — that would be far too easy. But I will say this much: you have rather more talent than I expected.” From Pemberton, that was extraordinary praise indeed.

Key vocabulary (6 words)

criticnoun
A person whose job is to give opinions about food, art or films.
eccentricadjective
Unusual and slightly strange in behaviour.
pastrynoun
A sweet baked food made from dough.
texturenoun
The way something feels when you touch or eat it.
merchantnoun
A person who buys and sells goods.
praisenoun
Words that show approval or admiration.

Phrasal verbs in this episode

  • win over — To win someone over means to gain their support or approval.
  • show up — To show up means to arrive or appear somewhere.
  • open up — To open up means to become less shy and share more.

Comprehension quiz

  1. How is Pemberton described?

    • A tough nut to crack
    • Friendly and easy-going
    • A baker himself
    Show answer

    A tough nut to crack

  2. What does Nadia bring to his table?

    • Her best pastries
    • A bottle of wine
    • A painting
    Show answer

    Her best pastries

  3. “A sweet tooth” means he loves…

    • sweet food
    • spicy food
    • sour food
    Show answer

    sweet food

  4. “Win someone over” means to…

    • gain their approval
    • defeat them in a race
    • ignore them
    Show answer

    gain their approval

  5. What does Pemberton reveal?

    • The secret came from a river spice merchant
    • The recipe is fake
    • He wrote the recipe
    Show answer

    The secret came from a river spice merchant

  6. “Open up” here means he…

    • became less reserved
    • unlocked a door
    • started a shop
    Show answer

    became less reserved

All 20 B1 episodes

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