Listening to a voicemail and extracting specific details is one of the most practical skills you can develop when learning English. In this activity, Chef Ravi leaves a message for his kitchen assistant with a complete grocery list for a chicken Parmesan recipe, specifying not only what to buy but also where to buy each item. Following along trains your ear for everyday vocabulary related to food, stores, and giving instructions.
What ingredients does Chef Ravi need for chicken Parmesan?
The voicemail is structured as a numbered checklist, making it easier to follow. Here are the items and locations Chef Ravi mentions:
- Fresh tomatoes, basil, and garlic — buy these at the local market because you can find the juiciest tomatoes and the freshest basil there [1:30].
- Chicken breasts — visit the butcher shop in town and ask for boneless, skinless chicken breasts [2:05].
- Bread — stop by the bakery and get a fresh loaf of bread, preferably Italian, sliced so it can be toasted into homemade breadcrumbs [2:30].
- Parmesan cheese — find grated Parmesan cheese in the dairy section at the supermarket [2:55].
- Spices and herbs — pick up dried oregano and black pepper in the spice aisle at the supermarket [3:11].
- Headache relief pills — stop by the drug store to grab some Aspirin [3:24].
Notice how each item is tied to a specific store. This is a great way to practise vocabulary for different types of shops: butcher shop, bakery, drug store, supermarket, and market.
What useful vocabulary appears in the voicemail?
Several words and phrases are worth highlighting for everyday English use.
How do we talk about food quality?
Chef Ravi emphasises quality throughout the message. He says things like "the juiciest tomatoes," "the freshest basil," and "top-quality chicken breasts." These are examples of superlative adjectives — used when comparing something to all others in a group. He also reminds the assistant to "select the best quality products" because a food critic is visiting the restaurant [3:40].
What expressions help you give instructions politely?
The voicemail models polite requests in English. Phrases like "Can you please help me?" and "feel free to give me a call back" show how native speakers soften instructions. The expression "we are out" [1:50] means the kitchen has run out of an ingredient — a very common phrase in both professional and home kitchens.
Where does each product go on the grocery list?
Organising items by store is a practical real-life skill. The voicemail groups purchases into five locations:
- Market: tomatoes, basil, garlic.
- Butcher shop: chicken breasts.
- Bakery: Italian bread.
- Supermarket: Parmesan cheese, dried oregano, black pepper.
- Drug store: Aspirin.
This structure helps you practise the prepositions at and to when talking about places: "head to the supermarket" versus "find these at the supermarket."
Why is this listening exercise effective for building English skills?
Voicemail messages are common in real life, and understanding them requires you to catch details on the first listen. Chef Ravi speaks at a natural pace, uses imperatives like "get," "head to," and "stop by," and includes colloquial expressions such as "my head is pounding" [3:30], meaning he has a strong headache.
Practising with this type of audio builds listening comprehension for specific information — a skill tested in most English proficiency exams. Try listening again without reading the transcript and filling in the grocery list worksheet on your own.
Do you prefer shopping at the supermarket or at the market? Share your answer and your completed list in the comments.
