Dining out: questions and Band 8 answers

Probably once or twice a week, usually at the weekend. During the week I tend to cook at home to save a bit of money, but on Friday evenings I love going to a local Italian place with my flatmates for some pasta and a chat.

I'm a big fan of spicy food, so I usually opt for Indian or Thai cuisine. Whenever I go out, I like ordering dishes that are too time-consuming or complicated to make at home, like a rich lamb curry or freshly made dim sum.

It depends on the occasion, really, but generally I prefer going out with friends. It feels a bit more lively and spontaneous. We often try out new street food markets in town where we can grab different dishes and share them around the table.

Not very often, to be honest. It was treated as a special treat, mostly reserved for birthdays or end-of-term celebrations. My parents preferred home-cooked meals, so going to a seaside fish and chip shop in the summer was always a massive highlight for my sister and me.

Definitely. In the past, people only went to traditional sit-down eateries, but nowadays casual dining and independent food stalls have become immensely popular. People seem far more adventurous with international flavours now, and many prefer sharing small plates rather than having a formal three-course meal.