Adjectives are words that describe nouns. They can add detail and interest to writing. When it comes to writing about food, using a variety of adjectives can provide information as well as sales appeal.
Which sounds better to you—“Chocolate Chip Cookies” or “Grandma’s Chewy Chocolate Chippers”? Researchers have found that the way food items are named affects how well they sell in restaurants. Foods with descriptive names have even been given higher ratings for taste. Keep in mind that the recipes of the foods with descriptive names are the same as those for the foods with nondescriptive names.
Try your hand at writing a descriptive menu by completing the following activity.
To read more about the impact of descriptive menu labels, visit the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab website. Research findings are reported in the restaurant section.