Describe an Outdoor Meal You Had - IELTS Speaking Cue Card

In the IELTS Speaking Part 2, as a test-taker, you must speak on a certain topic for two minutes. You will also be given a minute to prepare your answer. 

This section of the Speaking test evaluates your ability to organise your thoughts coherently on the given topics, like this one on ‘Describe an Outdoor Meal you Had.’You will have to present your ideas fluently by using appropriate words and grammar, ranging from simple to advanced. 

So, let us not wait any longer and start with the IELTS Speaking Part 2 question about describing an outdoor meal you had!

Strategies to Answer ‘Describe an Outdoor Meal You Had’ to Achieve a Band 8+

Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking test usually involves a task where you need to describe a memorable personal experience, like this one about an outdoor meal. A well-structured answer can help you achieve a band 8+, but you will need strategy, organisation of ideas, and confidence in delivering that response.

Let's check out the following to understand how to handle this task effectively!

• Always use the one-minute preparation time for planning your response. This will help you organise your thoughts coherently and structure yourself. 
• Open with an introductory paragraph, while the body should include details related to the experience. 
• You need to use appropriate and specific words in a Band 8+ answer, for which you must be aware of the IELTS Speaking Vocabulary. 
• Use idioms and expressions correctly according to the context in which you are going to use them.
• It is best to record yourself speaking to avoid hesitation or too many pauses. This can affect your band scores since your ideas will not be logically arranged due to pauses. 
• Remember to listen back to the recording and note the areas of improvement as well as the progress level.
• Use a variety of sentence structures to showcase your language proficiency level for and practice with the IELTS Grammar topics to ace the exam.
• Vary your voice rather than sounding robotic, since this section would examine how well you share your personal experience. 
• This is why you must showcase your emotions through voice modulation techniques.

Question

Band 7 Sample Answer - Describe an Outdoor Meal You Had

• Where did it take place/where did you go?

I’ve had many outdoor meals with my family. But I’ll tell you about a special one that I still cherish. 

• What was the occasion?

It was during a summer vacation that we visited the city of Palakkad, a district in Kerala and it was lunchtime. 

• What did you eat and drink?

Being non-vegetarians, our family decided to go to a vegetarian hotel for a change and it was then I tasted their special thali meals. Thali meals are a speciality of many vegetarian hotels. With a small bowl of rice, lentils, curd, pappad, sambar, pickles and payasam, these meals are a feast for the eyes. One can see a mix of dishes in various colours served on one plate. A spicy blend of south and northern cuisine makes up most of the thali meals. 

But the thali meals we ate that day have that special taste that only home-cooked food has that our grandmother used to make. 

• Explain whether you liked it or not.

I don’t know what special ingredient they had added, but I found it to be tastier and my whole family relished it. I’ve never had such a meal for a while. When we were about to leave, we thanked the hotel staff for serving us such a fantastic meal that filled our bellies and hearts.

Band 8 Sample Answer - Describe an Outdoor Meal You Had

• Where did it take place/where did you go?

One outdoor meal I clearly remember was in a place at a small lakeside restaurant in my hometown, Chennai. There is a beautiful grassy area with a few wooden picnic tables, and it is also a popular spot for families and friend groups to relax. We, as a group, set up everything under a big tree that gave us plenty of shade, and we had the perfect view of the water.

• What was the occasion?

The special occasion was my childhood best friend’s 23rd birthday. Instead of celebrating in a normal restaurant, he wanted something even more relaxed and enjoyable, so all of us decided to have a picnic outdoors. As it was also the beginning of the spring season, the weather was warm and refreshing. This made it the perfect and beautiful time to eat and have fun outside. It felt more meaningful since all of us contributed something to the meal.

• What did you eat and drink?

We had a wide range of simple but delicious food. I brought them some homemade sandwiches with grilled chicken and fresh fruits. Another friend of ours brought sushi rolls, and one more friend prepared a fruit platter with watermelon, apples, grapes, and a whole pineapple. For the drinks, we had iced tea, lemonade, mocktails and a small cooler with water bottles to keep us hydrated. After the main food, we surprised the birthday boy with a small vanilla cake, which was his favorite and enjoyed it while watching the sunset.

• Explain whether you liked it or not.

Each one of us loved that evening. It was a much needed best friends day out. Since life has gotten us busy, we weren’t able to meet each other constantly. But, in this birthday party, we had a good time together after so long! 

Band 9 Sample Answer - Describe an Outdoor Meal You Had

• Where did it take place/where did you go?

As a food connoisseur and a full-time food blogger, I love getting my hands on traditional and modern food items. So, recently, after the lockdown restrictions were lifted, I savored an amazing outdoor meal that I’ll discuss here.

• What was the occasion?

With the pandemic disrupting my plans, I was eagerly waiting for the restrictions to be lifted so that I could resume my blogging again. However, a few days after the restrictions were eased, one of my friends threw a birthday party in a themed restaurant with a Pirates of the Caribbean theme, where I relished delectable Chinese cuisines. The restaurant was designed after Captain Jack Sparrow’s ship, and even the staff were dressed as pirates. The restaurant’s environment and decor were extremely impressive, with skeleton mannequins, giant webs, quirky chandeliers, and chairs shaped like human rib cages.

• What did you eat and drink?

I savored eating hot chive dim sums, seabass dumplings, crackling chop suey, fried tofu, delectable chicken satay, succulent kung pao chicken, and an exquisite mai tai mocktail, among other delicacies. All of them tasted heavenly. 

• Explain whether you liked it or not.

Honestly, I enjoyed dining on my favorite food within the woody interiors of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie-inspired restaurant. The vibrant ambiance and flavorful Chinese food were just as wonderful as the interiors, making for an unforgettable dining experience. I have added this eccentric restaurant to my list of favorite restaurants in the city.

Vocabulary to Use in the ‘Describe an Outdoor Meal You Had’ Answer

• Connoisseur

Meaning: an expert judge in matters of taste
Eg: Keith is a professional critic and a food connoisseur.

• Restrictions

Meaning: a limiting condition or measure, especially a legal one.
Eg: Daniel couldn’t move to Canada due to travel restrictions.

• Chandeliers

Meaning: a large, decorative hanging light with branches
Eg: Jill received chandeliers as a gift.

• Ambiance

Meaning: the character and atmosphere of a place.
Eg: Everyone praised the cafe’s ambiance.

• Quirky

Meaning: having or characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits or aspects.
Eg: Jack has a quirky personality.

With good preparation techniques, structure, and continuous practice, you would be able to build a familiarity with some common topics in the Speaking Section. It is important to remain calm in order to prepare a structure while elaborating on the same with personal insights to achieve a higher IELTS Band Score. Don't stop here and continue your journey to enhance your band scores in the speaking module.

Also Check: 

• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• IELTS Speaking Recent Actual Tests with Suggested Answers for IELTS 2025
• 50 IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics; Questions with Answers