The Menu Trailer

classic
(noun) a work of art, literature, music, etc., that is of recognized and established excellence

mouthfeel
(noun) the way an item of food or drink feels in the mouth

mignonette
(noun) a sauce made with shallots, vinegar, and herbs, typically served with oysters

endeavor
(verb) to try to do something with great effort

ferment
(verb) to undergo a chemical reaction that produces alcohol or other substances

gel
(verb) to form a jelly-like substance

overarching
(adjective) very important, because it includes or influences many things

stagecraft
(noun) the art of staging a play or other performance

painstakingly
(adverb) with great care and attention to detail

head start
(noun) an advantage or lead that someone has over others

collocations with profit
How do they turn a profit?

A collocation is a group of words that are often used together.

These are common verbs that are usually used with the noun “profit:”
make a profit
turn a profit (=make a profit)
earn a profit (=make a profit)
show a profit (=make a profit)
report/post a profit (=officially announce a profit)
generate profit(s)
boost profits (=make them increase)
maximize profits (=make them as big as possible)
profits are up/down
profits rise/increase/grow
profits soar/leap (=increase by a large amount)
profits fall
profits slump/plunge (=fall by a large amount)

endeavor as a verb and as a noun
We’ll endeavor to make your evening as pleasant as possible.

As a verb, “endeavor” means to try to do something with great effort.
I will endeavor to do my best for my country.
He endeavored in vain to escape the situation.
The buyer should always endeavor to negotiate terms.

As a noun, “endeavor” means an attempt to do something, especially something new or difficult.
You must make an endeavor to work harder.
Learning a foreign language well can be a lifelong endeavor.
There have been great advances in the field of scientific endeavor.

gerunds as subject complements
The game is trying to guess what the overarching theme of the entire meal is gonna be.

A gerund is a verb form that ends in “-ing” and is used as a noun.

A subject complement is a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and that complements the subject of a clause by either renaming or describing it.

Subject complements are usually adjectives, nouns, or pronouns.
They can also be prepositional phrases or clauses.

I am John.
am = linking verb
John = subject complement (describes the subject “I”)

He is a student.
is = linking verb
a student = subject complement (describes the subject “he”)

They are smart.
are = linking verb
smart = subject complement (describes the subject “they”)

The game is trying to guess what the overarching theme of the entire meal is gonna be.
the game = subject
is = linking verb
trying to guess what the overarching theme of the entire meal is gonna be = gerund phrase (describes the subject “the game”)

More examples of gerunds as subject complements.
My hobby is swimming.
My hobby is volunteering at the local animal shelter.
His dream is traveling to many countries.
What I’d like to do is enjoying a quiet night with my family.

noun clauses as subject complements
This is what you’re paying for.

Subject + linking verb + gerund

A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions as a noun in a sentence.
It can be:
– the subject of a sentence
– the object of a verb
– the object of a preposition
– the subject complement

This is what you’re paying for.
is = linking verb
what you’re paying for = noun clause (describes the subject “this”)

Noun clause: question word + subject + verb

Subject + linking verb + noun clause

More examples of noun clauses as subject complements:
This is what he has been waiting for.
This is not what I ordered.
This could be what she was looking for.
That must be what made him angry.