Complimenting the Cook/Chef
Directly complimenting the person who prepared the food, whether at home or in a restaurant.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
incredible
Means extremely good or amazing, often used to praise something like food. For example, 'This cake is incredible!' shows strong positive feeling.
seriously
Used to emphasize that you mean what you say, like 'really' or 'honestly'. It makes your compliment sound more sincere, as in 'Seriously, it's delicious!'
enjoying
Means liking something and getting pleasure from it. In food contexts, say 'I'm enjoying this meal' to show you're happy with it.
flavors
Refers to the different tastes in food from ingredients or spices. Use it like 'The flavors are great' to compliment how well the tastes mix.
balanced
Describes food where tastes, textures, or ingredients are in good proportion, not too salty or sweet. Say 'The flavors are balanced' to praise the harmony.
divine
Means heavenly or perfect, especially for food or something delightful. It's a strong compliment, like 'The sauce is divine' for something superb.
outdid yourself
An idiom meaning you did much better than usual. Use it to praise effort, as in 'You outdid yourself with this dish!' to show admiration.
chef
A professional cook, often in a restaurant. Call someone 'quite the chef' to compliment their cooking skills, even if they're not professional.
delicious
Means very tasty and enjoyable to eat. It's a common word for praising food, like 'This is delicious!' in everyday conversations.
appreciate
Means to be grateful for something. When receiving a compliment, say 'I appreciate that' to politely thank the person.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
This lasagna is absolutely incredible!
This is a strong compliment on food taste. 'Absolutely' intensifies 'incredible' for emphasis. Use it to express great enjoyment when trying something new or special.
Seriously, it's one of the best I've ever had.
Emphasizes sincerity with 'seriously'. The structure 'one of the best I've ever had' compares positively to past experiences. Useful for ranking food highly in conversations.
I'm glad you're enjoying it.
A polite response to a compliment, showing happiness that the other person likes the food. 'Glad' expresses positive emotion. Use this when someone praises your cooking.
The flavors are perfectly balanced.
Praises how well the tastes work together. 'Perfectly balanced' uses an adjective to describe harmony. Great for detailed compliments on home-cooked or restaurant meals.
You really outdid yourself.
An idiomatic expression praising extra effort. 'Really' adds emphasis. Use it to acknowledge someone's hard work in preparing something exceptional, like a meal.
I put a lot of love into it.
Means adding care and effort, like affection, to the cooking. It's a warm response to thanks. Useful in casual settings to explain why food tastes good.
You're quite the chef!
'Quite the' is an intensifier meaning 'a skilled one'. This compliments cooking ability. Say it to friends or family who cook well, not just professionals.
Thank you for such a delicious meal.
A polite way to end a compliment by thanking the cook. 'Such a' emphasizes 'delicious'. Use this after eating to show gratitude in homes or restaurants.