Learn about the art of French cuisine

In terms of gourmet cooking, the art of French cuisine is often mentioned first, as it has remained true to its fundamental principles for decades. Unlike other cooking styles where shortcuts and innovative methods are encouraged and even valued, the basic techniques of French cooking have not changed over time. However, the principles of French cuisine can be applied to other cuisines and are therefore not out of date. In fact, French cooking techniques are still part of the core curriculum of most cooking schools and are often considered the most important step in developing true culinary skills. Likewise, whether you’re a foodie or an aspiring chef, learning about the art of French cuisine is certainly worth your time.

It is not without reason that the term for food of the highest quality, ‘haute cuisine’, is derived from the French language. French cuisine has been described in many ways, for example elegant, rustic, elegant and indulgent, exclusive, or even intimidating, but the concepts behind French cuisine are deceptively simple. In addition to the typical ingredients such as herbs, cheese, lamb, mushrooms and more, the applicant has to learn one of the most important things: patience. The process of learning to cook French requires going back to basics, carefully selecting the highest quality ingredients, and finally preparing them with the utmost care. For example, to cook French sauces, clarified butter is often a key ingredient and shortcuts common to other cooking styles are not accepted. Also, salt and pepper are used very carefully as the flavors are preferably drawn from vegetables, meats and herbs before rounding out the flavor with a bit of seasoning.

When you learn about French cuisine, you are often exposed to an impressive variety of dishes, as the diversity of local French cuisines is great. In the attempt to use only the best and freshest produce, the chef often finds the highest quality locally and therefore produces distinctive dishes locally. Ingredients commonly used in French food include poultry, red meat, game meat, fruits such as berries and apples, pumpkin, and leek. In northern France, local dishes often include ingredients like pork sausage and beer, while more Mediterranean ingredients like tomatoes, herbs, and olives influence southern French cuisine. However, cheese and wine are used in all parts of the country.

A wide variety of books, blogs and user groups will help you if you are inspired to learn more about French cuisine. A good idea would be to start with a simple soup or a familiar French-style dish, such as roast chicken, rather than trying complicated dishes with multiple ingredients and techniques. Even with basic cooking skills, basic techniques like chopping, sautéing, making sauces, and making stock can be easily learned. Chances are you won’t cook each and every dish yourself like in the movie “Julie and Julia,” but learning about French cuisine will improve your cooking style, perception of ingredients, and appreciation of high-end food. gourmet quality.