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(EP 57) Got a few minutes? Let's talk SpaghettiO's! Unexpected English always brings you fun ways to practice your English listening, so subscribe and tell your friends! First, I talk about this weird canned food. (Transcript help!) Next: A very very easy lesson: How to prepare SpaghettiO's (So easy! No transcript) Finally: A sweet story about how a town helped a little autistic girl get the only food she will eat: SpaghettiO's! (Transcript help!) All this and some of that famous SpaghettiO music! Listen, have fun, and subscribe!
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[INTRO] Hi everybody and welcome back to another episode of Unexpected English, your favorite English podcast! Now, this episode is *not* about your mom's spaghetti. Yeah, I know that was lead-in song. But it's not about your mom's spaghetti. It's about something else, called SpaghettiOs. Huh? SpaghettiOs, Yeah. Just listen. (Jingle) Okay, SpaghettiOs. You may be asking yourself, what the heck are spaghettiOs? You know, if you, if you ever saw them, you would have the same question, because it's something a little strange. spaghettiOs are a canned pasta in little circles, little O's. Yeah, it's a it's a kind of food. I think they say it's food, I'm not so sure. It was invented in 1965. SpaghettiOs, invented in 1965. And it is, as I say, a kind of round pasta in a tomato sauce that maybe is good for little kids to eat. I guess that's it. So, why a story about SpaghettiOs? Well, actually, I heard a real life report about spaghettios and it reminded me that they existed, and it reminded me of the famous advertising jingle. (Jingle) That's it. Oh-oh, SpaghettiOs. So I thought I would have a little bit of fun with that by giving you a little taste of the music, and then a very simple, “how to” for SpaghettiOs, I guess you could call it “how to SpaghettiO” And then in the end, the actual news report. And the news interview does have the transcript in the show notes. So meanwhile, you have this, you have a little SpaghettiOs, you have a how-to, and then the news, and I’ll be quiet and we’ll get going, so let’s go!
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HOW TO: (no transcript)
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[STORY] All right let's talk SpaghettiOs. OK first interview I've ever begun like that! This is Crystal McDonal. Crystal’s unlikely obsession with canned pasta began after the birth of her daughter Ashland. Ashland is autistic. And earlier this year she stopped eating food altogether with the sole exception of SpaghettiOs and meatballs. Teachers and therapists were working to expand her palate when the pandemic hit, clearing grocery store shelves of a lot more than just toilet paper. We couldn't find SpaghettiOs anywhere. It was like they were there one day and the next, they were gone! Wait, why was there a run on SpaghettiOs? I don't know if people thought, like, if the world ended, you could survive on SpaghettiOs. I just know that I was losing my mind trying to find them. And that's when the miracle happened. Like prepackaged manna from heaven, SpaghettiOs just started showing up. On her doorstep, in the mail. Hundreds of cans from people in the community who’d heard about Ashland in the local paper and wanted to help. If it wasn't for the kindness of people like that we would not have gotten by. SpaghettiOs is hardly a culinary cause célèbre. But in this home at least, every can is now fortified with faith in humanity.
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(EP 53) Unexpected English, with more real-life interviews to train your listening while you have fun! This time: Mexican flavor! Transcript abbreviated with xxx due to length limits. Please share, support the podcast --> https://linktr.ee/unexpectedenglish
#1 Jasmine's Quinceañera -> OK so here we are at Balboa Park and I noticed these fine looking young men here with their T-shirts on that say..... can you tell us what's going on here? It's a photo shoot for a quinceañera. And could you tell us what a quinceañera is? It's a Mexican traditional party for when girl turns 15. And what does your T-shirt say? “Jasmine's Quinceañera” And how do you fit into the party scene? I’m a chambelan. A chambelan, and could you tell us what that is? We’re one of her dancers, part of her, like, chorus. And how many... the guys, right? So how many guys will there be? Seven of us. Seven of you. And have you been practicing your dance moves? Yeah, we have. And anything else you want to explain about what this, because my listeners don't know about a quinceañera, so anything you else you could explain what that is. It’s just like when a girl transforms into a woman and it’s like they leave their childhood behind. That’s basically it. And have a big party, right? xxx
#2 Karina’s Ceviches -> So I'm here at a place called Karina’s Ceviches and More. Can you tell me about this restaurant? Right now? Yeah, I mean, just tell me, what is ceviche? Ceviche? It’s like a, I mean it's a combination of like spicy lime juice and shrimp and fish there's like marinated shrimp with spices in it. So it's a seafood dish. Seafood, yeah yeah yeah Mostly with what seafood? Shrimp or fish. And where does this recipe come from? Mexico I believe? You buh.. you believe? I mean, I yeah I believe. I mean are you... I don’t have facts about it but... I can't say. Oh, you just work here right? So I would have to talk to the men in the back they're the ones who know. Probably, yes. xxx
#3 Casa Guadalajara -> So here we are in Old Town at one of the most famous restaurants called... what's the name of this restaurant? Casa Guadalajara. xxx! How long has this restaurant been here? Over a decade, honestly, it's been here for a really long time I'm not sure the exact date, it’s back like 1980s I believe? But it's been here for a really long time. Long time! I think longer than, I think since the 80s because, because I've been living here that long and I know it was here. And what is there that makes this place special? It's just so vibrant it's very, like, colorful, it’s fun, we have mariachi band so it's always, like, high energy it's very fun place to come. And food-wise what’s some of the most popular dishes? One of my favorite dishes is the shrimp mango tacos, our signature dish is... Shrimp mango tacos! OK. Sooo good, they’re the best thing on the menu. Our signature dish is the tequila lime shrimp, and if people are just not for seafood, I would say either the Carne Asada Tampiqueña, or the house special, especial de la casa. OK well, I don't think I can do any more interview because the more she talks about food, the hungrier I get. So there you go, that's the story from... xxx
#4 Elote-> Hey there people, can I ask you what you're getting. Uh, “elote.” Elote, and what would that be? Mexican corn, basically. So here we are in Balboa Park and somebody is selling “elote” how is it served up, could you describe it to people who never had it? It’s served up in a styrofoam cup with corn and then some toppings. What kind of toppings are on there? Tajin, what is that? (It’s chamoy) Yeah, chamoy... Chamoy would be what? I think its Mexican hot sauce. OK maybe I should just ask the boss here, he's the one who has to tell us. What is it that you’re serving here today? Ahorita no, gracias! xxx
