Unit 105 - Understand menus

• Hospitality
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Unit 105 - Understand menus

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to understand the importance of 

• accurate menus in a restaurant 
• information that must be included
• identify different dietary requirements of guests.
  

Introduce the learning objective to the students. Let them know what they will be able to do by the end of the lesson.

What do you already know about menus and dietary requirements in a restaurant?

Importance of Accurate Menus

Accurate menus are crucial for providing guests with the correct information about the food they can choose from.

Explain the importance of accurate menus in a restaurant and how it impacts the guests' dining experience.

Styles and Presentation of Menus

Menus can be presented in different styles such as à la carte, prix fixe, or tasting menus.

Menus can be presented in different ways:

• Paper or card
• Online
• Black board/white board
• A board

Discuss the different styles and presentation formats of menus commonly used in restaurants.

Information on Menus

Menus should include the: 

• name of the dish
• accurate prices
• dish description and provenance
• allergen information and any dietary symbols.

Explain the essential information that should be included on menus to provide guests with necessary details about the dishes.

Vegetarian Dietary Requirement

Vegetarians do not eat meat, poultry, or fish. 

They can enjoy dishes with vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy products.

Explain what vegetarian dietary requirement means and provide examples of foods that vegetarians can and cannot eat.

Example: Vegetarian

Food examples: Vegetable stir-fry, pasta with tomato sauce, mushroom risotto. 

Not allowed: Chicken soup, fillet steak, bacon sandwich.

Provide specific food examples for the vegetarian dietary requirement and mention foods that are not allowed.

Vegan Dietary Requirement

Vegans avoid all animal products, including meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. 

They can consume plant-based foods.

Explain what vegan dietary requirement means and provide examples of foods that vegans can and cannot eat.

Example: Vegan

Food examples: Lentil soup, tofu stir-fry, vegan pizza. 

Not allowed: Milk chocolate, eggs benedict, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

Provide specific food examples for the vegan dietary requirement and mention foods that are not allowed.

Dairy-Free Dietary Requirement

People with dairy-free dietary requirements avoid all dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt.

Explain what dairy-free dietary requirement means and provide examples of foods that are dairy-free.

Example: Dairy-Free

Food examples: Almond milk, dairy-free ice cream, avocado toast

Not allowed: Yogurt, butter, cheese.

Provide specific food examples for the dairy-free dietary requirement and mention foods that are not allowed.

Gluten-Free Dietary Requirement

Gluten-free diets exclude gluten-containing grains like wheat, barley, and rye. 

Foods like rice, corn, and potatoes are safe for them.

Explain what gluten-free dietary requirement means and provide examples of foods that are gluten-free.

Example: Gluten-Free

Food examples: Quinoa salad, gluten-free bread, baked salmon. 

Not allowed: Wheat pasta, regular bread, soup thickened with flour.

Provide specific food examples for the gluten-free dietary requirement and mention foods that are not allowed.

Pregnancy Dietary Requirements

Pregnant women may have dietary preferences or restrictions to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Discuss dietary requirements and considerations during pregnancy and provide examples of foods that are beneficial or should be avoided.

Example: Pregnancy

Food examples: Folic acid-rich foods like spinach, prenatal vitamins, 

Foods to avoid: raw fish or unpasteurised cheeses.

Provide specific food examples for pregnancy dietary requirements and mention foods that are beneficial or should be avoided during pregnancy.

Religious Dietary Requirements

Some religious diets may restrict specific foods like pork or alcohol. 

It varies based on different religious practices.

Explain the concept of religious dietary requirements and mention a few examples based on different religions.

Example: Religious

Food examples: Kosher chicken, halal lamb, prasad (Hindu offering). 

Restrictions vary based on specific religious practices.

Provide specific food examples for religious dietary requirements and mention that restrictions can vary based on specific religious practices.

Medical Dietary Requirements

Certain medical conditions may require dietary restrictions, such as diabetes or food allergies.

Explain medical dietary requirements and provide examples of conditions that may require specific diets.

Example: Medical

Food examples: Sugar-free or low-sugar desserts for diabetic individuals. 

Specific dietary requirements may vary according to guests.

Allergen-free options for people with food allergies, which is why it is important to know the 14 allergens

Provide specific food examples for medical dietary requirements and mention how these diets cater to specific medical conditions.

Interactive Activity: Matching Game

Match the dietary requirement with the corresponding food examples.

Engage students in a matching game activity where they have to match different dietary requirements with the appropriate food examples.

Summary

Menus must accurately represent the available food options and cater to various dietary requirements to ensure customer satisfaction.

Sale and Supply of Goods Act means that all food sold must be as described

Summarize the importance of accurate menus and catering to different dietary requirements in a restaurant setting.

Review Questions

1. Why are accurate menus important? 

 

2. Name three dietary requirements and provide an example of the foods allowed and not allowed.

Engage students with review questions to assess their understanding of the lesson's key concepts.

What question should be asked if a customer orders a steak?

1. Can you afford it?
2. How would you like it cooked?
3. Which sauces would you like with that?
4. Are you a vegetarian or vegan?

State two reasons why a waiter must know the dishes/ingredients on a menu?

1. To know what they are going to order for staff lunch
2. To be able recommend dishes
3. To tell the chef how the dishes are cooked
4. To deal with dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances

What two pieces of information must be shown on a menu

1. Menu items with the correct prices
2. Dietary information and allergens
3. How the food is cooked
4. Whether the dish can be served without certain ingredients

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.