Vocabulary
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- brine /brahyn/
- plethora /PLETH-er-uh/
- the next level /thuh nekst LEV-uhl/
- tinker /TING-ker/
- tenacity /tuh-NAS-i-tee/
[verb] – soak or preserve in salty water
Brine the walnuts for four to five days.
[noun] – a very large amount of something, especially a larger amount than you need, want, or can deal with
The market will be open to a plethora of new operators.
[idiom] – a better, more advanced, or more successful situation than before
The use of fresh herbs takes the dish to the next level.
[verb] – to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt to repair or improve it
He is outside, tinkering with his motorcycle.
[noun] – the determination to continue what you are doing
Career success depends on a combination of talent, effort, and sheer tenacity.
Article reading
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
One of Japan’s best-known delicacies is the tiny karaage, a delicate and complex variation of fried chicken. But why is the small village of Nakatsu regarded as having the best-fried chicken in Japan, and perhaps the entire world?
The origins of karaage can be traced to a Chinese restaurant called Rairaiken in Usa City, a neighboring city to Nakatsu City. The restaurant started offering deep-fried chicken karaage as a set meal in the late 1950s. From there, it ran across the street to a little izakaya that had acquired Rairaiken’s frying techniques. Today, Usa is one of the centers for this wonderfully crisped fried treat and has more than 40 karaage establishments. However, it was the relocation to the nearby Nakatsu that gave this fried chicken its renown on a national and later an international level. In Nakatsu, two cooks established their own karaage business, where they improved the marinating procedure by including apple chunks and brining the chicken for a longer amount of time to enhance the flavor of the chicken. The stores gained popularity quickly and spawned a plethora of imitators, establishing Nakatsu’s position as the origin of karaage. Today, chefs in Nakatsu have taken their karaage to the next level. A healthy competition between the nearly 50 shops has inspired chefs to tinker with everything from cooking times and batters to a variety of soy- and salt-based marinades. Nearly every shop in Nakatsu has a secret ingredient that they’re not willing to share, and that separates their karaage from the rest.
Karaage serves as Japan’s symbol of tenacity and innovation. And the cuisine is what makes Nakatsu’s citizens feel most at home.
The origins of karaage can be traced to a Chinese restaurant called Rairaiken in Usa City, a neighboring city to Nakatsu City. The restaurant started offering deep-fried chicken karaage as a set meal in the late 1950s. From there, it ran across the street to a little izakaya that had acquired Rairaiken’s frying techniques. Today, Usa is one of the centers for this wonderfully crisped fried treat and has more than 40 karaage establishments. However, it was the relocation to the nearby Nakatsu that gave this fried chicken its renown on a national and later an international level. In Nakatsu, two cooks established their own karaage business, where they improved the marinating procedure by including apple chunks and brining the chicken for a longer amount of time to enhance the flavor of the chicken. The stores gained popularity quickly and spawned a plethora of imitators, establishing Nakatsu’s position as the origin of karaage. Today, chefs in Nakatsu have taken their karaage to the next level. A healthy competition between the nearly 50 shops has inspired chefs to tinker with everything from cooking times and batters to a variety of soy- and salt-based marinades. Nearly every shop in Nakatsu has a secret ingredient that they’re not willing to share, and that separates their karaage from the rest.
Karaage serves as Japan’s symbol of tenacity and innovation. And the cuisine is what makes Nakatsu’s citizens feel most at home.
Discussion Questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What food is your city or hometown famous for? Please tell me more about it.
- Which traditional foods from your country would you recommend to the rest of the world?
- If you were to cook karaage, what additional ingredient would you put in it?
- Should Nakatsu be officially called the “Karaage Capital of Japan”?
- Why is food an important symbol of a city or town?
Summarization
Please summarize the whole article using your own words and expressions. You will have one minute to prepare before you answer.
Describe
Please explain the definition of each word listed below based on your understanding. You can provide example sentences if needed.
- delicacy
- acquire
- relocation
- spawn
- innovation