(a) Identify the type of menu illustrated in the diagram (b) State three characteristics of the type of menu (c) Highlight two methods of cooking used in th...

Answer Details

The diagram shows a menu card headed THE RESTAURANT - YOU ARE WELCOME (dated 10-10-2018), listing the following dishes each against its own price:

The card also states 30 mins cooking time and closes with Bon Appetit!.

(a) Type of menu illustrated

This is an a la carte menu. The decisive evidence is that every individual dish carries its own separate price (for example the Poached Egg at \(\text{N}150.00\) and the Grilled Fillet Steak at \(\text{N}175.00\)), and the note 30 mins cooking time shows the dishes are cooked freshly to order rather than served as one pre-set, single-price meal. A table d'hote menu, by contrast, would give a fixed inclusive price for a complete meal, which is not what the card shows.

(b) Three characteristics of an a la carte menu

• Each dish is listed and priced separately, so the diner pays only for the specific items chosen (here the total for any selection is the sum of the chosen prices).
• Dishes are cooked to order (freshly prepared on request), which is why a waiting time is stated (\(30\) minutes cooking time).
• It offers a wider range of choice and is generally more expensive than a fixed-price meal, because the customer can pick any combination of courses.

(c) Two methods of cooking used in the menu

1. Poaching - shown by the Poached Egg, in which the food is cooked gently in liquid held just below boiling point.
2. Grilling - shown by the Grilled Fillet Steak, in which the food is cooked by direct radiant heat.

(Braising, as in the Braised Liver, and boiling, as in the Porridge, are further methods present on the card.)

(d) Two food nutrients that can be sourced from the menu

• Protein - obtained from the Poached Egg, Braised Liver and Grilled Fillet Steak, needed for growth and repair of body tissues.
• Carbohydrate - obtained from the Porridge, which supplies energy to the body.

(Additionally, the Fresh Orange Juice supplies vitamin C and the Braised Liver supplies the mineral iron, so vitamins and minerals are also available.)