A Mini Lesson in French Cuisine
by Susan Davis on 10/27/09 at 10:25 am
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Don't worry, not everything in your local bistro looks like this
Don’t be fearful of dining in a French restaurant just because you don’t know the language.  Most French restaurants out there don’t serve escargot or ortolans. Many of the items listed on menu are common and familiar. Here are some of the selections you might see, both in fine restaurants and neighborhood bistros, along with their English translations.
Salad Niçoise – Green salad with tuna and vinaigrette
Croque Monsieur – Ham and cheese sandwich
Sandwich de Boeuf – Steak sandwich
Crepes – Thin, filled pancake (may be sweet or savory)
Quiche – Egg and cheese pie
Pommes Frites – French fries
Coq au Vin – Chicken cooked in wine sauce
Bouillabaisse – Fish stew
Boeuf Bourguignon – Beef stewed in red wine
Fondue – heated mixture of cheese or oil in which pieces of meat or vegetable are dipped
Croissant – Light, buttery roll
Baguette – Crispy and hearty bread
Ratatouille – Vegetable mixture of eggplant, zucchini, onions, tomatoes, pepper and garlic
Haricot Verts – Green beans
Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée – Onion soup
Poisson Frit et Frites – Fish and chips
Tarte Tatin – Apple tart
Gougère – Cheese puffs
Cassoulet – Bean and sausage stew
Blanquette de Veau – Veal with aromatic vegetables
Vichysoisse – Creamy potato and leek soup
Once you become familiar with some of these French dishes, you may start to recognize and figure out other menu items that share some of the same ingredients.
Of course, if in doubt, you can always ask your server to translate!
Bon appétit!
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