French Cooking

French cooking includes thousands of classic recipes and a lot of specialized terms and techniques. You don't have to enroll in a cooking school (although that can be fun too) to learn a lot about the subject - a little reading and a little practice go a long way. The complexity and artistry of French cuisine is without bounds. Learning a little about how French food is created will increase your enjoyment in the simple pleasure of a good meal. You may also become a better cook!



French Cooking Resources

french cookingterms French Cooking Terms

If you are trying to translate a recipe from French to English, here is a list of some of the more common terms you will find.

basic cooking tips Basic Cooking Tips

These tips are not just for French cuisine - they work no matter what you have planned for dinner tonight.

french cooking schools French Cooking Schools

Here is a growing resource for finding the perfect cooking school right here in France. Imagine spending your next vacation learning how to cook delicious and beautiful food all while enjoying the French lifestyle. There are classes available all over France and for every level of interest.

french cookware French Cookware

While it is very true that you do not need French cookware to make French food, France does have a number of companies that produce absolutely superb kitchen equipment. Also included here are general cookware items that you might find in a typical kitchen in France.

cooking tools Cooking Tools

I don't know about you, but I love the right gadget! Here are a few cooking tools that are all designed to make your work in the kitchen easier and more enjoyable, whether you are cooking French food or another cuisine.

gourmet cooking supplies Gourmet Cooking Supplies

Here are some ingredients that come up time and time again when you are exploring French cuisine. Most of these are actually readily available - maybe even in your local grocery store, and some are easy to prepare yourself at home.


French Cooking Encyclopedia

When I first moved to France, I needed to learn so many new terms and names of food. Not only to be able to cook in my own kitchen, but also just so I could more fully enjoy the incredible gastronomic experience I was immersed in. One book has been on my bookshelf from the start and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone interested in French cuisine. Larousse de la cuisine is a reference book for a life time of enjoyment.


Your Cooking Questions

If you are looking for information on French cooking and dining, but can't seem to find the answer to your question, you've come to the right place.

You can ask me any sort of question on French culture or food and I'll try to answer you back, right here on Easy French Food. I won't always know the answer straight off, but I'm pretty good at researching the subject. Also the fact that I am living here in France and speak fluent French can make it a lot easier for me to find out some information.

So go ahead, don't be shy. Ask your cooking question today and receive a timely response. Today's question may lead to tomorrow's great food experience!

Maybe you are wondering . . .

  • What do French people eat for breakfast?
  • What are some basic rules of French table etiquette?
  • Can I make French bread at home?
  • Who are some of the famous French chefs of today?
  • How do the French celebrate Christmas?

Do you have a question about French cooking?

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What Other Visitors Have Asked

Click below to see questions from other visitors about French cooking.

Cups To Grams  Question: Hi, Can you give me the conversions from cup to grams etc. There are lots of differing conversions could you point me in the right direction?...

French Table Manners  Learn the basics of French table manners with these few rules. Nothing too complicated - it is a lot about respect, a little about looking good, and ...

Recipe for Gateau aux pommes  One of the ingredients is almond flour, I have never seen this, would ground almonds do the job ?

French Breakfast Bread  Question: What is the word used for French pastry or bread, commonly used at breakfast? We stayed at French Quarter in Disney World, and they served ...

Black Currant Liqueur Substitute  Question: I want to try your recipe for raspberry coulis. However in Oklahoma, black current liqueur is impossible to find. What other types of common ...

Strawberry Tart for Dad  I had scoured the internet looking for a French tart that my dad was remembering when he last went to France. I used the Tarte Aux Fraises and crème ...

Top Ingredients in French Cooking  Question: What are the top ten mostly used ingredients in French cooking. I know they say the three main ingredients to French cooking are butter, butter,...

Cautious Husband  I finally persuaded my husband to accompany me to Paris. Although a good eater, he was reluctant to try anything too unfamiliar while there. He discovered ...

French Salad Vegetable  Hi. I live in France too! I have eaten a salad with pear, goats cheese and toasted pine nuts. The salad vegetable used is seasonal and popular. It is ...

Breton Galette 
The Breton galette is a large buckwheat crepe that is stuffed with various savory fillings. Here are a few tips for successful galette making. (Photo ...

Making French Bread  Wondering about making French bread at home? It can be done. Here are some tips to help you get started in what is really an art. And consider your ...

Cooking Leeks   When cooking leeks, it's not always clear how much we should use, prompting one of my kind readers to write with this question. Learn when to use the ...

Croque Monsieur with Pineapple  My best French food experience may not be that exciting on paper, but it was discovering a new variation on the most simple of French dishes. In French ...

Smelly Cheese  We recently had my nephew visiting us here in France and we took a day trip to the city of Meaux, which is to the east of Paris. Meaux is in the land ...

French Cream Style Eggs  Question: I have a French friend...and his grandmother used to make a breakfast dish.....with a white cream and scrambled eggs....I wonder if this was ...

Pineapple and French Cooking?  Question : Hi, I need an original recipe created by me and I am thinking about using a sauce with red wine and pineapple on meat. But I am not sure,...

Serving French Guests in America  Question: Hi, My husband has a young, French co-worker that just moved to the area a few weeks ago. He went to college here and I think this is his ...

Cake with Strawberries  Do you know the name of the layer cake that has sliced strawberries in it with Triple Sec liqueur and crème anglaise (I think). It has the chantilly ...

Moelleux au Chocolat  I have a question about the recipe, I thought it was delicious when I finished cooking it, but I was just curious and was wondering what region or city ...

Pan Fried Potatoes  Question: What is the tastiest cooking oil for pan-fried French fries?

Answer:
I think in general when frying foods you don't want the oil ...

Storing Red Wine Sauce  Question: How many days ahead can I make a cabernet reduction wine sauce and can it be frozen? Thank you.

Answer: Bonjour. Thanks for visiting EFF....

Madeleines  Question: Why is it when I bake my madeleines in the proper pan, the ridges never show. I really would like to see the ridges.

Response: Hi Connie,...

French Tea Time  Question: What do French people eat and drink for their tea time? And when is the general tea time?

Answer: Most children in France will have a ...

Table Etiquette in France  Question: Can you tell me why the French keep their hands above the table? and do not let them slip into their laps?

Answer: Hi Owen, Sorry to ...

French Snail Dish  Question: One time I was at a French restaurant and they served, as an appetizer, snails over puff pastry with a sauce. Do you have any idea what I ...

Fleur de Provence  Question: I work on an herb farm in Maryland. Recently, a customer asked if we knew what "Fleur de Provence" was. We were all baffled.

The closest ...

French Lemonade  Question: How do you say lemonade in French? Not Limonade , but the drink were you mix water with lemon juice and sugar?

Answer: I believe most ...

My First French Dish!   I love to cook, but have never taken a cooking course or really done anything too exciting. I now have a friend who might be going to France next year ...

Savarin Cake  Question: Have you ever heard of a cake called severain? I am looking for the recipe for a friend.

Answer: Hi Sandra, Thanks for writing in with ...

French Pantry  Question: What are the common ingredients that are found in hand in a French kitchen and pantry?

Answer: Hi Jessica, Thanks for stopping by and ...

Cooking With Wines  Question: I am a novice when it comes to cooking with wines. I was wondering if all of the alcohol is removed from a wine when it is cooked slowly ...

Bain Marie  Question: When cooking an egg dish in a bain marie should I preheat the bain marie before adding the egg/veggie terrine?

Answer: Unless a recipe ...

Reheat Bearnaise Sauce  Question: Good afternoon - Your wonderful Bernaise sauce requires that it is best made just before serving.

I am giving a dinner party for 14 next ...

French Breakfast Food  Question: Recently on a trip to France, I ate something for breakfast that the waitress said was sounded like "Jewel" au lait. Do you know what it ...

Baguette Sandwich  Question: What goes in a Parisian baguette sandwich? What is a good French cookbook to have in my library? I was thinking Mastering the Art of French ...

Replacement of Alcohol in Food Preparation  Question: Due to religious reasons, I do not take alcohol. In some of your recipes, alcohols are used such as rum, wine, beer in stews, cakes etc. What ...

Soupe de Chapelure  Question: I see "soupe de chapelure" in French recipes. Is this "breadcrumb soup"? Do you know where I could find a recipe for this? Or is it just another ...

Profiteroles  Question: Hi. I recently had a French dessert at my French friend's house. It was something like vanilla ice cream in a bun and hot chocolate over ...

Mignardise  Question: I need to find out how to spell this word properly. It means dessert served before or with the bill. migurgese?

Answer: That would ...

Poutine  Question: Is poutine popular in France or only in Canada?

Answer: Hi Ryan, Thanks for writing to me with your question.

Poutine is most definitely ...

Strawberry Tarts  Question: My parents recently went to France. I was told to make my dad's dream dessert as his birthday present, which is a strawberry tart sold at vendors ...

Mise en Bouche  Question: I would love more information about the 'little something' first course of a French meal. What is served/how it is served/how it is chosen ...

French Breakfast Food  Question: What are five food items French people eat for breakfast?

Answer: Well, I hope I'm not answering your homework question, but here goes ...

Entrees for a French Meal  Question: What are some normal 'entrees' served at French family meals (say Sunday with the relatives) and how much time passes between the entree and ...

Cream Puff Shells  Question: How far in advance can I make cream puff shells?

I am going on a short journey and have been asked to bring an appetizer, I would like ...

French Cheesecake  Question: Do you have a French recipe for cheese cake? If I am correct, they are much more creamy and smooth than other types for example New York ...

Chocolate Bouillie Recipe  Question: I am looking for a chocolate bouillie recipe. Please advise me on quantities and method.

Answer: Chocolate bouillie is just a simple ...

Magnifique!  I was invited for thanksgiving to have lunch with my french friend,Michele,and two of her french friends,a couple.

It was a wonderful experience,as ...

Parsnip Recipe  Here's a simple parsnip recipe that you may like to try. A reader wrote wondering what this vegetable is called in French.




Grow Your ...

French Snails  Find out what French snails you might find on your dinner plate in the answer to a reader's question on this subject.

Question : What type of snails ...

French Cream Puff Cake - Croquembouche  This fabulous, towering French cream puff cake is called a croquembouche - as delicious as it is gorgeous. Just right for your next celebration?

Question:...

Famous French Chefs  Question:

Who are some of the famous French chefs of today?

Answer:

Beginning in the middle ages with Guillaume Tirel, alias Taillevent (1310 ...

Alcohol Substitute in Cooking
I have noticed that many French recipes include alcoholic ingredients. As I do not drink any alcoholic drinks, is there a substitute that could replace the alcohol?


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