It was a cold Friday evening. The sky was dark, but the lights in Alex’s small apartment were warm and welcoming. Alex had invited his friends for a special dinner. The friends were all excited because tonight was “International Food Night” — everyone was bringing a dish from their country.
Alex stood at the door, waiting. He looked at the clock. “They will be here soon,” he said to himself, smiling.
First, Maria arrived, wearing her cozy red coat and holding a big plate covered with foil. “Hola, Alex! I hope you are hungry. I made Spanish tortilla!” she said.
Alex opened the foil and smiled. The dish was round and golden. “It looks amazing, Maria! Thank you.”
A few minutes later, Chen arrived. He had a bamboo basket in his hands. “I brought dumplings,” he said. “They are soft and tasty. My mother taught me how to make them.”
Fatima came next, carefully carrying a big silver pot. “Assalamualaikum! I made chicken biryani. I hope you like spicy food!” she said with a wide smile.
“Wa alaikum salam, Fatima!” Alex greeted her. “Your food always smells so good.”
Last came Diego, holding a tray covered with a towel. “Hey, friends! I brought empanadas — from my home, Argentina,” he announced.
When everyone was there, they placed their dishes on the table. The table was full of colors, smells, and tastes from around the world. The friends all sat down, happy and ready to eat.
Sharing Stories with Every Bite
Maria was the first to serve the food. She cut the Spanish tortilla into slices, like a cake.
“This is not like the Mexican tortilla,” she explained. “In Spain, tortilla is made with eggs and potatoes. My grandmother makes this every Sunday for lunch.”
Chen picked up a dumpling with his chopsticks. “In China,” he began, “we eat dumplings on New Year’s Eve. Sometimes, we hide a coin inside one. If you find the coin, you will have good luck.”
“Did you put a coin in these dumplings?” Alex asked, laughing.
Chen shook his head. “No, not today! Only soft dumplings. No dentist visits for us tonight.”
The room was filled with laughter.
Fatima served her biryani. The smell of spices made everyone’s mouth water.
“Biryani is very special for us in Pakistan,” Fatima said. “It’s made with rice, chicken, and many spices — cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and saffron. My family eats this during festivals like Eid.”
Diego passed his empanadas around. “Empanadas are small pastry pockets with meat and onion inside. When I was a child, my abuela — my grandmother — made them every weekend. We ate them while watching football games.”
Alex brought out his shepherd’s pie. “This is a traditional British dish. It’s made with minced meat, vegetables, and mashed potatoes on top. My mum always made this when it was cold outside.”
Everyone took small bites from each dish.
Maria smiled. “I love learning about food from other countries. It feels like I’m traveling, but I’m still here.”
Chen nodded. “Yes. Food is a language we all understand.”
Sweet Ending
When the plates were almost empty, Alex surprised them all.
“I have one more thing,” he said, going to the kitchen. He returned with a white box.
“I ordered dessert — gulab jamun,” Alex announced, opening the box. “They are small, sweet milk balls from India.”
Fatima clapped her hands. “Oh! Gulab jamun is one of my favorites! My grandmother makes them during Eid.”
They all tasted the sweet, soft dessert. It was warm, sticky, and delicious.
“Perfect ending,” Diego said. “Sweet food, sweet friends.”
Planning the Next Dinner
As they finished the meal, Maria wiped her hands with a napkin and looked around.
“We should do this every month,” she said. “Next time, I will make paella — another Spanish dish.”
“Yes! And I will make hotpot next time,” Chen added.
“Maybe I will teach you all how to make chapli kebab,” Fatima said.
“Don’t forget Argentinian asado,” Diego added proudly.
Alex raised his glass of water. “To friends, food, and fun! This was the best dinner ever.”
They all raised their glasses and said together: “Cheers!”
📘 Vocabulary from the Chapter
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dish | A type of prepared food |
| Ingredients | Foods used to make a meal |
| Recipe | Instructions for making a dish |
| Flavor | The taste of food |
| Spicy | Food with a strong, hot taste |
| Sweet | Food with a sugar taste |
| Savory | Food that is salty or full of flavor |
| Appetizer | A small meal before the main meal |
| Dessert | Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal |
💡 Activity for Readers!
1️⃣ Match the Word to the Meaning
a) Dish
b) Recipe
c) Dessert
d) Spicy
- ___ Sweet food eaten at the end of a meal.
- ___ Food with a strong, hot taste.
- ___ Instructions for making food.
- ___ A type of prepared food.
2️⃣ Practice Sentences
Now write 3 simple sentences about food from your country.
Example:
- In my country, we eat ____.
- The main ingredient is ____.
- I like to eat it with my family on ____.