Interactive French — Scenario of the Month Food Language
Organising a meal and eating are real leisure activities, at times almost an art form in France. It is exciting and fun to invite someone for a meal as you will spend many hours around the table eating, drinking and talking. Preparing a meal is an exciting project and it should be a positive experience, especially with the wonderful possibilities of food shopping in France – there is nothing like the experience of an open-air market where everything looks so beautiful and tasty – and let’s remember about using every opportunity to speak French!
When you have invited guests, don’t forget to always offer an aperitif or “apéro” before the meal. Make the meal last by not moving too quickly from one course to the next and have fun conversing about all kinds of topics. With the exception of personal financial situations, there are not many taboos in France, and you can discuss almost anything: religion, politics, immigration, love, etc… The guests might disagree with you on a position you’ve taken about a particular theme such as politics and they might express themselves strongly, but don’t worry, it does not mean they feel insulted or don’t appreciate you anymore – they’re just simply expressing themselves. If they liked the meal and had some good laughs then you can count on them inviting you to their house for the next meal. Socialising around a delicious dinner is most important to them. As Oscar Wilde said: “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relatives”. During the dinner, don’t be surprised if the French begin planning their next meal; it is normal for them to discuss food while they’re eating.
During the diner, don't be surprised if the French begin
planning their next meal; it is normal for them
to discuss food while they're eating.
"Oui" for a second serving
At the end of a meal, it is also customary to offer a "liqueur" which is usually justified as a mean of helping digestion! Depending on the region you live in, you will sample probably something strong made from regional fruits or perhaps a Brandy (Cognac). Most French people will spend time and put a lot of effort into making a successful meal – the best thing you can do to thank the chef is to tell him or her how wonderful the meal is and even better is to finish your plate and say "oui" if the chef offers you a second serving! The French love to clean their plate with small bits of bread, which is quite acceptable in France as well as being another sign for the chef that you are truly enjoying it.
A Role Play
Organiser un repas
Un couple doit préparer la liste de courses pour un repas :
Claire : il faut faire la liste des courses pour le repas de ce soir. Stéphane : Ah oui, c’est vrai, nous invitons les voisins. Quel type de cuisine on va faire?
Claire : Je pensais faire une cuisine typiquement française avec une salade Niçoise pour le hors d’œuvre, des truites meunières avec du riz et des haricots verts pour le plat principal et une tarte au pommes pour le dessert. Moi, je peux cuisiner les légumes si tu veux bien t’occuper du poisson. Il faut faire attention de ne pas trop cuire le poisson ! La dernière fois il était presque brulé ! Stéphane : Oui, c’est très bien. Alors, faisons la liste. Au marché, il faut acheter un kilo de petites tomates grappes, un concombre, des haricots verts, 1 poivron vert, quelques feuilles de basilic, des petits oignons blancs et des olives. Et aussi un kilo de pommes pour la tarte. Est-ce qu’il nous reste des œufs ? Claire : Non, il faut en prendre aussi. Il y a une dame qui vend des œufs fermiers au marché, on les prendra là-bas. Et il ne faut surtout pas oublier de passer chez le fromager du marché . Stéphane : Ah oui, il nous faut un beau plateau de fromages. Je m’en occupe. Et au supermarché, qu’est ce qu’on achète ? Claire : Il faut du riz et du thon en boite et aussi de la farine, du beurre et du sucre. Et il faudra aussi aller chez le poissonnier acheter quatre belles truites.
Stéphane : Qu’est-ce qu’on fait pour l’apéro ? Claire : On pourrait prendre quelques amuse-gueule, on verra. Stéphane : Il ne faut pas oublier d’acheter du vin et du pain ! Claire : Les voisins ont dit qu’ils apporteraient du vin, mais on va quand même acheter deux bouteilles de Bourgogne chez le marchand. Stéphane : Je crois que c’est bon comme ça. Claire : C’est tout ? Stéphane : Oui, allons- y.
Listen here
Organising a meal
A couple must prepare the shopping list for a meal : Claire : We have to do the shopping list for tonight’s meal. Stéphane : Ah yes, that’s right, we’ve invited the neighbours. What type of food should we fix? Claire : I was thinking of making a typical French meal with a salad “Niçoise” for starters, trout with a sauce “meunière” with rice and with green beans for the main course and an apple pie for dessert. I can cook the vegetables if you would take care of the fish. We have to be careful and not cook the fish too much! Last time, it was almost burnt.
Stéphane : Yes, that’s very good. So, let’s do the list. At the market, we have to buy a bunch of small tomatoes, a cucumber, some green beans, one green pepper, a few basil leaves, some white onions and some olives. And also a kilo of apples for the pie. Do we have any eggs left? Claire : No, we must get some also. There is a woman who sells eggs from the farm at the market, we’ll get some over there. And we must not forget to get some cheese at the market. Stéphane : Oh yes! We need a beautiful cheese plate. I’ll take care of it. And at the supermarket, what should we buy? Claire : We must get some rice and a few tins of canned tuna and also some flour, butter, and some sugar. It’s also necessary to go to the fish market to buy some nice trout. Stéphane : What should we do for the “apéritif”? Claire : We could get some snacks.
Stéphane : We must not forget to buy some wine and bread ! Claire : The neighbours said they will bring some wine, but we’re going to buy two bottles of red Burgundy at the wine shop anyway . Stéphane : I think that should do it. Claire : That’s all? Stéphane : Yes, let’s go.
French Accent Magazine - January 07
A Few Indispensable Words The French language is richly endowed with culinary expressions, so here is some vocabulary which could be useful for your next meal with your French neighbours.
La cuisine = the cooking (ex : la cuisine italienne) La cuisine (2nd meaning) = the kitchen Cuisiner = to cook Faire cuire = to cook one specific item over the stove Cuire à point =medium cooked Saignant = bloody Brulé = to burn Faire les courses = to do food shopping Faire les magasins = to shop Faire les achats = to do some shopping Le marché = the open air market Le supermarché = the supermarket Le marchand = the shop
Le petit-déjeuner = breakfast Le déjeuner = lunch Le dîner = dinner Le repas = meal Les plats = dishes Une assiette de fromage = cheese plate Les hors d’œuvre = starters Le plat principal = the main dish Le dessert = dessert L’apéritif ou l’apéro = drink before meal L’alimentation = food La nourriture = food La bouffe = slang word for meal Bouffer = slang verb "to eat" Amuse-gueule = snacks for the apéritif
