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Part 2&3  A time when you had an unusual meal答案及解析_雅思口语练习「新东方雅思官方网校」

I had an unusual meal which really sticks in my mind, once when I went to Vietnam on holiday. It was a bee salad. Yeah, I know that sounds really strange! But indeed it was a bee salad. It was a salad made of some vegetables and salad leaves, and lots of bees – well, the flesh of bees. Obviously, they did not have their legs and wings and things. Those had been peeled off, I guess. In fact, if it had not been on the menu I would not have known it was a bee salad. At least I would not have known that all those little pieces were bees! Or parts of bees. The taste was, however, not as unusual as you might think. It had a hint of honey flavor, but mainly the dressing (vinegar and oils and spices) covered up any taste that might make one think of bees. It was actually very nice. I had chosen it from the menu mainly because it struck me as something that I may never get the chance to eat ever again. Even the idea seemed quite unusual. I was with a good friend of mine with whom I had been travelling, and we had had a long day in the sun, and I was not that hungry, so I did not want to order anything too big or substantial, but I certainly needed something to eat, and I was feeling in a slightly adventurous mood. I’ve also tried all sorts of different foods before in my travels around China and Asia, so nothing really surprises me much – but this, when I saw it on the menu, certainly did surprise me! So, I ordered it. I think it’s important to try different things in life – it’s a bit like challenging one’s assumptions – you sometimes never know – what seems strange often isn’t that strange when you experience it directly, first hand, yourself. And the bee salad was like that. It was a lot more ‘normal’ than anyone would imagine. 

The great thing about eating in restaurants is that you get to try loads of foods that are really hard to make at home or made from ingredients that are difficult to come by yourself. Also, there is the added fact that you don’t need to worry about any cleaning up or anything like that. Another great thing is the communal nature of eating out with friends or family. It's not really the same when you’re at home. The downside is that most decent restaurants are expensive, noisy and a bit crowded. 

Ordering a takeaway is still very popular, as people do like to get things delivered to their homes where I live. However, eating out is a whole different experience, and all round much more of a social and entertaining thing to do. Ordering food to your home is simply more functional and you do that when you’ve not got the time or energy to cook, and you can’t be bothered to go out. But eating out at a restaurant is a completely different type of experience – it’s a social event, and it’s something that marks more of a special occasion, I’d say. 

Most certainly, the main function of a restaurant, aside from providing food for people to eat, is most certainly the social dimension. Restaurants are meant to be entertainment venues as much as anything else, and that entertainment is usually provided by the guests themselves. People love to eat out and spend a lot of time chatting and drinking and laughing and bonding with friends, family or workmates over their meals. 

In my country, you can find a variety of fast food options. International chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Burger King are widespread. There are also local favourites such as street food stalls offering items like dumplings, skewers, and noodles. Pizza chains and sandwich shops are also popular, catering to diverse tastes and preferences.

Yes, many people do eat fast food at home. With the rise of food delivery services, it's easy to order fast food and have it delivered straight to your door. Some people also prefer to pick up their favourite fast food items and bring them home to enjoy in a more relaxed setting.

Absolutely, food culture is highly valued. People take great pride in traditional cuisines and culinary practices, often celebrating through food festivals and family gatherings. While fast food is popular for its convenience, there is a strong appreciation for homemade meals and traditional dishes that have been passed down through generations.