15 Old-School French Recipes Your Grandma Used to Make (2024)

FAQs

What are some French cooking terms? ›

One of the most celebrated recipes is Coq au Vin, a classic French dish that showcases the art of slow cooking. Julia's detailed instructions guide readers through every step, from browning the chicken to perfection to creating a flavorful sauce with red wine, mushrooms, and bacon.

The French culinary technique of déglacer enriches and enhances the flavor of traditional French dishes. Translating to deglazing, chefs remove leftover juices from the pans that meat, for example, is cooked in, before using them to create a base for sauces with perhaps the addition of wine or stock.

- Ordering à la carte: La carte is what you call the menu in English: a list of dishes available and their prices. The advantage of ordering à la carte is you get the complete liberty to compose your meal. However, it will be more expensive than ordering a ménu du jour.

Boeuf Bourguignon – Most Famous Food in France

Boeuf Bourguignon is a French stew made with beef braised in beef stock and red wine, naturally from the Burgundy region. Carrots, garlic, onions and a bouquet garni (fresh herbs tied together) are cooked slowly resulting in a hearty beef stew.

Under Louis XV, (1715-1774), the king and his entourage developed a gastronomic culture of excellence. Marshal de Richelieu, a French academician, used to say: "before the reign of Louis XV, we didn't know how to eat".

Every chef in the world, no matter their language or nationality knows the phrase Oui Chef! It is a universal response to the Head Chef that signifies respect. They give an order and it's Oui Chef! And that is what we say to you, the most creative, hardest-working chefs on the planet - Oui Chef!

Most liquid products are sold in measurements of liters/litres (L), centiliters/centilitres (cl), milliliters/millilitres (ml), but in recipes, you are often asked to use the liquid in milliliters.

What do French chefs say when food is good? ›

C'est délicieux. It's delicious. C'est fameux.

Many French dishes are not for people learning to cook for the first time. Part of the appeal of French cuisine is the difficulty associated with many of its dishes. In general, these recipes are not something that you can whip up for a weeknight dinner.

One reason the meals are so flavorful is because of the unique techniques used. The French have come up with amazing techniques like flambeing, braising, poaching, and sautéing. These add an incredible burst of texture and flavor to meats, vegetables, and other ingredients.

The French like to take their time over meals. Today, most people don't have the time to devote two hours to a lunch break, but in France, it's still common for people to leave work at midday and eat a three-course meal with wine before returning at 2 pm or 3 pm. The French eat small portions.

French slang of the week: Cuistot - Chef/ Cook.

The 3 Classes of French Cuisine: Haute Cuisine, Provincial Cuisine, and Nouvelle Cuisine. French cuisine has a storied past and a global reputation for excellence. While the nuances are vast, three main classes stand out: Haute cuisine, Provincial cuisine, and Nouvelle cuisine.