How to Understand French Cooking Terminology

French cooking can be safely divided into 2 categories: casual and classic. Classic French cuisine takes years of study and lots of precision, but casual French food can be comforting and delicious. Understanding French terminology is incredibly important when cooking French food. Use these steps to learn ways to understand French cooking terminology.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Take a French cooking class. One of the best ways to learn a new cultural element is to immerse yourself in the process among French chefs. Most culinary schools only allow students in their classes, so check with the community college, local cooking school or a local caterer to learn about private classes.
2. Buy a great French cookbook. A good French cookbook will have a terminology section in it to explain different techniques. A good one to check out is "The French Cook" by Francois Pierre La Varenne. Originally published in 1671, this is a classic in French cooking. It is available at Amazon and other major book retailers.
3. Travel to France and cook with a French chef. There are many vacation and tour packages offered with a French cooking experience built right in. One company offering these great travel packages is French Adventures. Check out their website for more information.
4. Find a French cooking video. This gives you a good opportunity to learn in the comfort of your own kitchen, at your own pace from a real French trained chef. Check out Total Vid for great French cooking videos you can download to your PC.