Soup Before Closing
Free B2 Upper-intermediate English dictation about Food (2 min): listen to natural English audio, type what you hear and check every word instantly.
B2 (Upper-intermediate) English dictation about Food: 10 sentences, about 2 min.
Full transcript
A café near the town market has begun serving a changing soup made from unsold vegetables. The weekly supper, which opened last month, draws shoppers, stallholders, and residents who rarely meet. Rather than advertise a fixed menu, cooks post the ingredients after the market closes. That uncertainty once seemed likely to deter customers, yet many now arrive curious about the combination. On Thursday, roasted peppers softened a lentil broth, while bruised pears were served with sharp cheese. All dishes cost the same modest amount, so nobody has to explain why they choose leftovers. The arrangement has also reduced waste, although cooks say unpredictability demands careful storage and flexible recipes. A stallholder who once discarded herbs now sets aside small bundles before packing up. Organizers say the supper is not a substitute for affordable groceries, but it makes surplus visible. Next month, they will invite diners to suggest combinations, though the final menu will remain a surprise.
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