Describe someone who is a good cook

 IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 490 with Model Answer:

Describe someone you know who is a good cook.

You should say:

• who this person is
• how you know this person
• what kinds of food this person cooks

and explain why you think this person is a good cook.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

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Model Answer 1:
I think that we all love to know about good foods and how they are prepared. But, I think that it is also a good thing that we also sometimes know about the person or the cook who works so hard to prepare those foods from behind the screen. Mrs Hema is one such good cook, and today I would like to talk about her.

I have known this person for a long time since she happens to be the wife of one of my elder cousins. She is also a teacher – a rather busy teacher, I might add - by profession, and it is safe to say that she loves her job very much. But, despite being a busy and great teacher, one of the few things that she really enjoys doing is that she just loves to cook her favourite foods whenever she manages to save some time for herself. Anyway, it is not that I get invited often to the house of this sister-in-law of mine, obviously because she is a busy person, but when I do, very rarely do I get to leave her place without eating some really delicious foods.

These tasty foods mostly include oriental dishes which are cooked with a perfect combination of aromatic herbs, powerful sauces and spices. She also likes to cook some Indian dishes once in a blue moon, but her spicy shrimp soup or sweet and sour chicken stands a world apart from the rest. She also prepares some delicious Japanese cakes (Japanese strawberry cake comes to my mind) and desserts that would probably blow away the minds of even some of the most critical food tasters.

Anyway, I think that Mrs Hema is a good cook, simply because she is passionate about cooking, and she knows what kinds of foods are to be served at what time which is sure to stimulate the taste bud of her family members and friends. Besides, what makes her good is also her ability to prepare tasty foods rather quickly.

Model Answer 2:

Introduction & Who this person is:
I would like to talk about a person I know who is a great cook. Her name is Sarah, and she is a professional chef who works at a local restaurant where I often go for dinner with my family and friends.

How you know this person:
I first met Sarah about a year ago when I went to the restaurant for the first time. I was amazed by the quality and taste of the food, and I asked the waiter about the chef who cooked the food. The waiter introduced me to Sarah, and I had a brief conversation with her. Since then, I have been a regular customer at the restaurant, and Sarah and I have become good acquaintances.

What kinds of food this person cooks:
Sarah is an expert in cooking different types of cuisine, including Chinese, Thai, Indian, and Continental. She has a vast knowledge of different spices and herbs, and she knows how to blend them perfectly to create a unique flavour. Her specialities include chicken curry, lamb chops, fish tikka, and stir-fried noodles.

And explain why you think this person is a good cook: 

Sarah's cooking is not only delicious, but it is also beautifully presented. She pays attention to every detail, from the texture of the food to the colours on the plate. She uses fresh and high-quality ingredients, and she never compromises on the taste or the quality of the food. I believe Sarah is a good cook because she has a natural talent for cooking, and she has dedicated her life to perfecting her skills. Whenever I eat at the restaurant, I am always impressed by the taste and presentation of the food, and I know that Sarah is the reason behind it.