Yes. When I think of France, along with its language, rich history, renowned art, ground-breaking fashion, and striking architecture, I have images of pastries and fresh-baked baguettes from the local boulangerie floating through my head. I am surely a gourmande, and learning the words to communicate my love of food has been an enjoyable part of my language learning process.
While there is so much more to French culture beyond food, France is certainly celebrated for its fare. It is the country with the most Michelin star restaurants (aside from Japan), as well as the home of fine wines, more than 400 types of cheese, an endless supply of delicious, buttery treats, and exotic-sounding delicacies such as frogs’ legs and escargot.
With food as such a big part of France’s culture, why not make French cuisine a part of your language learning experience?
An Introduction to French Cuisine
There is a wealth of information available regarding French cuisine (and I’ve included a few resources at the end of this post), but I’d like to do a quick introduction.
A typical French meal consists of three courses. These are often a starter (l’entrée), the main dish (le plat), and either a cheese, fruit, sorbet, or yogurt for dessert (le dessert).
Meal times can last for hours. They are as much about the food as they are about the experience and the conversation. In 2010, French cuisine even made it on to the UNESCO World Heritage List, defined as "a festive meal bringing people together for an occasion to enjoy the art of good eating and drinking.”
