Choosing Pastries/Cakes
The customer is undecided and asks the baker/staff for recommendations for pastries or cakes. They might inquire about ingredients or popular items.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
pastries
Baked goods like croissants or pies, often sweet and flaky. Use this word when shopping for small baked treats in a bakery.
recommend
To suggest something good based on opinion or popularity. Say 'What do you recommend?' when asking for advice in a store.
fruity
Having a flavor or taste like fruit. Use it to describe food preferences, like 'I like fruity desserts.'
indulgent
Something enjoyable but a bit luxurious or excessive, like a rich treat. Common for describing tasty but not everyday snacks.
croissant
A flaky, buttery French pastry shaped like a crescent. Order it by saying 'One croissant, please' in bakeries.
flaky
Light and crumbling in texture, like layers that break apart easily. Describe baked goods with 'The pastry is flaky and delicious.'
almond
A type of nut with a mild, sweet flavor. Used in desserts; say 'almond flavor' to specify nutty tastes.
topped
Covered or decorated on the top with something. In food, like 'topped with sugar' to describe added ingredients.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
What do you recommend today for pastries or cakes?
This polite question asks for suggestions on specific items. Useful for getting advice in shops; uses 'what do you recommend' pattern for recommendations.
Are you looking for something fruity, chocolatey, or perhaps something lighter?
This helps narrow down choices by offering options. Great for customer service; 'or perhaps' adds a soft suggestion, showing alternatives with 'or'.
Maybe something not too sweet, but still a bit indulgent.
Expresses a balanced preference. Useful when undecided; 'not too' means moderately, and 'but still' contrasts ideas for nuanced requests.
What's in the almond croissant exactly?
Asks for details about ingredients. Practical for allergies or curiosity; 'what's in' is a common phrase for contents, with 'exactly' emphasizing precision.
It's filled with a delicious almond cream, topped with toasted flaked almonds and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Describes a food item vividly. Helpful for sales; uses passive voice 'filled with' and 'topped with' to explain composition clearly.
I'll take an almond croissant, please. And perhaps a simple butter croissant too, for later.
Places an order politely. Essential for buying; 'I'll take' means 'I want to buy', and 'perhaps...too' suggests an additional item softly.
No, that's all for now, thank you! How much will that be?
Confirms the order and asks for the price. Use at checkout; 'that's all' ends selection, and 'how much will that be' is standard for total cost.
That'll be $8.50, please. Cash or card?
States the total and payment options. Key for transactions; 'that'll be' is a contraction of 'that will be' for future price, offering choices with 'or'.