Sudhir asked:


The 1970’s brought a great deal of upheaval and new ideas to the forefront, and the world of cuisine was no exception. In June of 1975, the British magazine Harpers & Queen coined a term to refer to a new type of food that was sweeping the world: Nouvelle Cuisine.

What is nouvelle cuisine? It is, in a word, the marriage of health-conscious California to traditional France. Consider it an updated version of French cuisine- flavorful food with a light-handed, healthy approach. It’s difficult to define nouvelle cuisine in more specific terms because of its huge impact on the way food in general is prepared today. Nouvelle cuisine opened doors to a new generation of restaurant-goers who loved rich tastes and fresh combinations, but didn’t want their bodies to pay for it later.

With this new lighter menu came a new style of cooking as well. Chefs in nouvelle cuisine restaurants used shorter cooking times and fresher ingredients, cutting down on the multiple steps that got in the way of the natural flavors of the food. In a world that was waking up to faster-moving times and stricter diets, this new cuisine caught on with incredible speed.

Like any other trend, nouvelle cuisine was often widely misunderstood and misrepresented. Depending on what regional restaurant you visited, you might have been subjected to a low-calorie meal with tiny portions and been told it was nouvelle cuisine. Many chefs and consumers alike did not grasp the concept that lighter did not necessarily mean less.

One of the main goals of nouvelle cuisine was to excite more than just the sense of taste. A skilled nouvelle chef would be able to produce a meal that was artistically arranged on the plate and contained a wonderful mix of smells, textures, and flavors. Oils and fresh spices were used extensively to bring out the natural flavor of the fresh vegetables and pastas in these meals.

The way we cook at home today owes a great deal to nouvelle cuisine. Olive oil, vinaigrette, and fresh herbs are common today in many American kitchens, mainly due to the influence of the nouvelle cuisine movement. Restaurants, too, have taken their cue: before the appearance of nouvelle cuisine, portions were heavier and larger, and consumers went to restaurants expecting to come out full, but not necessarily sated. Nowadays fine restaurants base their expertise on combining flavors, not smothering them; and on their presenting food that satisfies, not simply fills, an empty stomach.

There is still a debate on whether nouvelle cuisine has disappeared from the radar. It has certainly influenced other fields of cooking, but nobody is sure if it can be considered a movement of its own in the current times. Then again, a trend that catches on so quickly is almost always destined to develop in other ways and spread to other things, losing its identity as a separate entity along the way.



Garth

Da OzzY MaN asked:


any websites?
ideas?
information?
origins? etc.

Theodore

taintdx asked:


My friend’s party is coming up and her only wish is for us to bring a dish that we made. But the thing is, she assigned us different ethnicities. I have French cuisine, but have almost no idea what to make. The only thing we cannot make is dessert, soup, or salad.

help please (:

Vance

Spilk asked:


For my French class we have to present an aspect of French culture. All of the students have decided to present it on French cuisine (since there are only four of us in the class) and each of us is bringing a different part of the meal.

I am bringing the beverage, and since this is school related, brining wine is out of the question. I was considering bringing “Limonade” some brand of French Lemonade… but I was curious as to what alternative beverages a French family might serve with dinner besides wine and water.

Elmer

Vic asked:


World leaders; I ask because someone told me George Bush tried to ban French food from the US, and have French fries renamed as Freedom Fries?

I said this couldn’t be true as wealthy Americans have always eaten French food, as have their worldwide counterparts, for centuries

Erwin

Peter R Stewart asked:


A French Polynesia Vacation in an exclusive hideaway paradise called Vahine Island situated on the north side of Tahaa is something that needs to be considered by you this year.

If it is a French Polynesia honeymoon that you are thinking about, or any honeymoon vacation for that matter, then Vahine Island needs checking out, if you are looking for an untouched blue lagoon in French Polynesia for your vacation.This is exactly where Vahine Island is to be found.

The number of guests is deliberately restricted as there are only three overwater bungalows, and six beach bungalows of which three are suites. The beach bungalows are beautifully situated amongst the hibiscus and bouganvillae, and they are all built of local woods and bamboo.

Your French Polynesia Vacation will start when you land at Tahiti International Airport, where you are just a short 35 minute flight from Raiatea Airport. You then are taken by speedboat for the 25 minute ride to Vahine Island.

Vahine Island could best be described as rustic luxury, the whole place and its surroundings almost seem to be in a time warp. It’s a wonderful place to stay, and if you are on your honeymoon vacation then one of the three overwater bungalows should probably be your choice.

Just be aware that there is no air conditioning in your room, which is a good reason for choosing overwater because of the breeze. There is no pool, but honestly who needs one, when you have the most beautiful swimming possible in the crystal clear turquoise sea only feet away, down the stairs and straight into the water.

The overwater bungalows have a platform deck half in the shade, covered, and half, open, in the sun.

Remember to take water shoes because if you stray far from the sandy bottom under the water bungalow you will find coral and sea urchins await you!!

Lots of people use the free kayaks and canoes and snorkelling gear also comes free of charge.

The food at Vahine island is a high spot, and you will dine on world class French cuisine, which is mixed with local exotic flavours and local seafood.

To summarise what you will find at Vahine Island is an unforgettable combination of white-sand beaches, magnificent coconut groves, stunning lagoons and a backdrop of majestic sunsets over Bora Bora .

Be in no doubt that Vahine Island could be not only the perfect French Polynesia destination for you, but even more perfect for your honeymoon vacation.



Fitzgerald

yanks1mets2000 asked:


What are some commonly used herbs and spices used in French Cuisine?

Brigham

WTF asked:


French bonbons are the only French food I’ve ever had in my life and would like to try French cuisine.

Dixon

Paul Brown asked:


To this day, I can still remember my four-month backpacking trek across Europe and of the many sites and experiences. But what stood out for me was the fact that most people, young or old alike, spoke English and at least one or two other languages. I would often feel guilty for having to communicate in their country in English and not in their language. How often as North Americans when we travel to foreign countries face the invisible wall of language, which keeps us hemmed in and somewhat restricted and limited in our experiences of the people and culture of that country. On my return home I resolved to learn French so that the next time I re-visited Europe, I would be at the very least bilingual. I no longer wanted to be the typical monolingual North American. And you have to admit that we are living in a global community in which the world is no longer a big place. I want to be a member of our global community.

So, why learn a language? The reasons are many and I will address the generic ‘why’ at a later time. But as Martin H. Fischer says, “Any man who does not make himself proficient in at least two languages other than his own is a fool.” What about the benefits of learning a foreign language? The benefits range from the personal to the biological and we will also discuss these benefits another time. So why did I learn French? Well folks, I did not want to be a ‘fool’ no more.

I chose French as my first language because my husband is French and I’m an Anglophone living in a French environment. I also love the sound of the language and the French cuisine and culture.

By what means was I going to employ to learn French fluently? I chose to learn French online. I wanted to learn French the easy way with the convenience of learning at home, having my own hours and learning at my own pace. I wanted to find a proficient French language package that was innovative as well as educationally and linguistically sound yet affordable. So let’s cut to the chase and review what this package entails:

Firstly, this package is portable. If you can access the Internet, you can go online and listen to a French lesson or do a grammar exercise. If you want to use your mp3 player to learn French vocabulary, just download one or more audio lessons and begin to learn. If you want to burn a CD to learn French fluently once you have downloaded the audio to iTunes or Windows Media Player, insert your CD-Rom and you are good to go. This enables you to save and use time effectively especially if you want to learn French fast.

Secondly, you can learn how to speak French fluently with a real French accent because the program, including the interactive software games, uses native French speakers. So you get to hear authentic French spoken instead of reading a boring textbook and guessing how to pronounce the words. You can also quickly learn French as most lessons and games are between 15 to 34 minutes.

Finally, you will learn how to speak French online because they teach you the 31 most useful French conversations. This is very practical especially if you desire to communicate in a proficient manner when visiting a French speaking country. They also provide you with an online forum with access to French teachers and fellow students.

You too can break the language barrier and expand your horizons by learning to speak French with this innovative course. So when a French visitor speaks to you on your turf, you’ll be proud to respond in French and not look like a fool.



Albion

Enrique Helmbrecht asked:


If you travel abroad and learn French in France, you will find remarkable places to visit and enjoy all day long. France entertainment ranges from amazing beaches to mountain scenery; from refined cities as Paris to the unique flatlands of Lille in the north; from tasty wines to aphrodisiac cuisine; definitely a country worth the visit, a great chance to learn French in France!

During your stay and while you learn French in France you shouldn’t miss the city of Rochelle, an incredible historical landmark of high towers and water surroundings. Find the Old Harbour and enjoy boat trips to nearby regions or just relax in one of its many beaches while you learn French in France.

A visit to the Eiffel Tower is definitely a must as you learn French in France. The iron construction beside the Seine River was believed to be a waste of money during early periods; now it is considered the most distinguishing tourist feature of France and more than 200 million of people have already visited the tower. If you learn French in France surely this is the best place where to start you trip.

For those interested in the past of France Chartres Cathedral is the greatest gothic cathedral of the country. While you learn French in France also learn about its history and visit this remarkable construction that will take your breath away with its superlative architecture.

Learn French in France and also enjoy outdoor sports and astonishing landscapes in the French Alps. You can practice all type of winter sports in its high slopes, from which Mont Blanc is the highest. Also enjoy deep blue lakes, natural forests and the incredible valley where you can do shopping and dine in beautiful restaurants.

If you come to learn French in France, drinking a national wine and enjoying a typical dish is the most pleasant delight that France has to offer.

Visit the city of Champagne, the home of the delicious drink. In Champagne you will have the chance to hear about the history and the process of production of this renowned wine. In Champagne you will not only learn French in France, but also about world drinking culture.

Cultural events in France also flourish as time goes by. Learn French in France by enjoying famous cinema productions and festivals. France is home to the Cannes Film Festival of international recognition as well as the Nice Jazz Festival. The Bastille Day is an entire day celebration that commemorates the end of the monarchist rule in France. For those coming to learn French in France and wish to enjoy an amazing sport event, Paris offers the huge Roland Garros Stadium where every year the Grand Slam Tennis Tournament takes place, with famous stars as Roger Federer, David Nalbandian and Rafael Nadal.

Another sport widely practice in France is Golf. So if you have come to learn French in France, you can combine your French courses with a golf course to make your stay more entertaining. This sport has been practiced since the 19 C. and today you can find more than 500 golf courses offered in France. So learn French in France while enjoying this traditional sport ritual.



Aaron