IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a Time When You Tried Food from a Foreign Country 🌏🍽️

Describe a Time When You Tried Food from a Foreign Country 🌏🍽️

Ideas 💡

• What it was → Sushi, pasta, tacos, kimchi, croissant
• Where you ate it → A restaurant, a friend’s house, while traveling
• How you knew about this food → Friends, TV shows, social media, travel
• Why you wanted to try it → Curiosity, cultural experience, recommendations

Useful Grammar & Structures 🏗️

✅ Past simple & past perfect (I had never tasted it before, so I was excited to try it.)
✅ Narrative sequencing (At first, I was unsure, but then I absolutely loved it!)
✅ Causal linking phrases (Because of this, I decided to give it a try.)
✅ Idioms & phrasal verbs (It was a feast for the senses! / I took a leap of faith and ordered it.)

Collocations & Idioms 🌟

1. Mouth-watering dish 🍛 (món ăn hấp dẫn)
2. A burst of flavors 💥 (sự bùng nổ hương vị)
3. An acquired taste 🤔 (hương vị cần thời gian để thích nghi)
4. Authentic cuisine 🏯 (ẩm thực nguyên bản)
5. Step out of my comfort zone 🚶‍♂️ (bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn)

Full Sample Answer (2+ minutes) 🎤

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to try Japanese sushi for the first time. I had always been curious about sushi because it’s such a well-known dish worldwide, but I had never actually given it a shot. One day, my friend invited me to a Japanese restaurant in my city that was famous for serving authentic cuisine. Since I love experiencing new cultures through food, I decided to step out of my comfort zone and try sushi.

When the food arrived, I was amazed by the presentation—the sushi rolls were arranged beautifully on a wooden platter, and the colors were vibrant. I tried salmon nigiri first, and honestly, I was a bit hesitant because eating raw fish sounded intimidating. But as soon as I took my first bite, I was blown away by the fresh, delicate flavors. The combination of soft fish, sticky rice, and soy sauce created a burst of flavors in my mouth.

I first learned about sushi from TV shows and social media, where people always seemed to rave about how delicious it was. That’s why I had been meaning to try it for a long time. After that experience, I became a huge fan of Japanese food, and now I often go to sushi restaurants whenever I crave something light but flavorful. Looking back, I’m really glad I took the chance to try it because it opened my mind to different types of cuisine.

🎤 Part 3: Follow-up Questions & Answers 🍽️🌍

1. Is foreign food popular where you live? Why?

Ideas 💡

✅ Yes → Globalization, diverse population, social media influence
✅ No → People prefer traditional food, expensive options

Collocations 🌟

1. A melting pot of cultures 🌎 (sự pha trộn văn hóa)
2. Fusion cuisine 🍛 (ẩm thực kết hợp)
3. Easily accessible 🚗 (dễ tiếp cận)
4. Stick to traditional flavors 🍜 (gắn bó với hương vị truyền thống)

Sample Answer 🎤

Yes, foreign food is very popular in my country, especially in major cities. Due to globalization, people are more open to trying new cuisines, and many international restaurants have opened up. Additionally, social media has made foreign food more appealing and accessible because people see influencers trying different dishes and want to experience them too. However, some people, especially the older generation, still prefer sticking to traditional flavors rather than experimenting with foreign food.

2. Why are some foreign foods more popular in one place than others?

Ideas 💡

• Availability of ingredients → Some dishes require specific ingredients
• Cultural similarities → Certain flavors align with local tastes
• Marketing & media influence → TV shows, celebrity chefs, food bloggers

Collocations 🌟

1. Cater to local tastes 🍛 (phù hợp với khẩu vị địa phương)
2. Limited availability of ingredients 🛒 (nguồn nguyên liệu hạn chế)
3. Widely promoted by the media 📺 (được truyền thông quảng bá rộng rãi)
4. Adopted into local cuisine 🍽️ (được kết hợp vào ẩm thực địa phương)

Sample Answer 🎤

Some foreign foods become more popular than others because they cater to local tastes. For example, Japanese sushi is widely accepted in many Asian countries because people are already familiar with rice-based dishes. However, some cuisines, like Mexican food, may not be as popular in certain areas due to the limited availability of ingredients. Additionally, the media plays a big role—if a dish is widely promoted by celebrities and influencers, people are more likely to try it.

3. Do you think people like food they’ve eaten while growing up?

Ideas 💡

• Yes → Comfort food, nostalgia, cultural connection
• No → Some people develop new tastes as they travel and experience more

Collocations 🌟

1. A sense of nostalgia 🏡 (cảm giác hoài niệm)
2. Comfort food 🍲 (món ăn quen thuộc, dễ chịu)
3. Develop a refined palate 👅 (phát triển khẩu vị tinh tế hơn)
4. Stick to familiar flavors 🔄 (gắn bó với hương vị quen thuộc)

Sample Answer 🎤

Yes, many people prefer the food they grew up eating because it gives them a sense of nostalgia. Traditional dishes remind people of home and childhood memories, making them feel comfortable. However, some people develop a more refined palate over time and become more adventurous with their food choices, especially if they travel often and experience different cuisines.

4. Do people care about the origin of foreign food? Why?

Ideas 💡

• Yes → Authenticity matters, better quality
• No → Some people just care about taste, not where it comes from

Collocations 🌟

1. Authentic flavors 🌍 (hương vị nguyên bản)
2. Locally sourced ingredients 🛒 (nguyên liệu địa phương)
3. Brand reputation ⭐ (uy tín thương hiệu)
4. Ethical concerns 🌱 (vấn đề đạo đức)

Sample Answer 🎤

Yes, many people care about the authenticity of foreign food. For example, when eating Italian pasta, people prefer it to be made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients from Italy. However, some people only focus on taste and don’t mind whether a dish is truly authentic or slightly modified.

5. Is there a difference in quality between products from different origins? Why?

Ideas 💡

• Yes → Different standards, climate differences
• No → Depends more on the brand than the origin

Collocations 🌟

1. Quality control standards 📏 (tiêu chuẩn kiểm soát chất lượng)
2. Imported goods 🚢 (hàng nhập khẩu)
3. Superior craftsmanship 🏭 (tay nghề vượt trội)
4. Vary from brand to brand 🏷️ (khác nhau tùy thương hiệu)

Sample Answer 🎤

Yes, there are notable differences in quality depending on the country of origin. Some countries have higher quality control standards, ensuring that their products are more reliable. For example, Swiss watches are famous for their superior craftsmanship, while French cheese is known for its rich flavors. However, sometimes quality varies from brand to brand, regardless of where a product is made.

6. What makes a country known for producing high-quality products?

Ideas 💡

• Strong industry standards → Countries with strict quality control
• Skilled workforce → Highly trained professionals ensure better products
• Innovation & technology → Advanced manufacturing methods
• Brand reputation → Some nations are famous for specific industries

Collocations 🌟

1. World-renowned for quality 🌍 (nổi tiếng toàn cầu về chất lượng)
2. Stringent regulations 📜 (quy định nghiêm ngặt)
3. Cutting-edge technology 🔬 (công nghệ tiên tiến)
4. Craftsmanship and expertise 🛠️ (tay nghề và chuyên môn cao)

Sample Answer 🎤

A country becomes known for high-quality products when it has stringent regulations on production standards. For example, Germany is famous for precision engineering, particularly in the automobile industry, because it enforces strict quality control. Additionally, countries that invest heavily in cutting-edge technology and have a skilled workforce tend to produce superior products. Another factor is brand reputation—countries like Switzerland are world-renowned for their craftsmanship in watchmaking, making people trust their products without hesitation.