On fait la cuisine ~ en français! Food and eating form a very important part of French culture and daily life. French people have a keen sense of what is good and what is not good when it comes to food. They do not compromise on quality.

There are 22 regions in France and each region is fiercely proud of its local dishes, cheeses, wine etc. For example, Bretagne (Britanny) is famous for its crêpes. In Provence you must not miss tucking into a salade Niçoise – salad with olives, tuna, anchovies and boiled egg.

Special food is also enjoyed on special occasions. For example, a dessert eaten at Christmas time is la bûche de Noël – the Christmas log. On 6 January every year Catholics celebrate La fête des Rois – which commemorates the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus. At this time families eat la galette des rois – a special bread with beans or porcelain figurines in it.

Nouns: a recipe ~ une recette an oven ~ un four 180 degrees ~ 180 degrés a bowl ~ un bol, un saladier a teaspoon ~ une cuillère à café a dessertspoon ~ une cuillère à soupe a cup ~ une tasse a food processor ~ un mixer (pronounced mixeur) a pie dish ~ un plat à tarte a cake tin ~ un moule Recipe vocabulary

Verbs: to mix ~ mélanger to sift ~ tamiser to measure ~ mesurer to add ~ ajouter to stir ~ remuer to melt ~ faire fondre to grate ~ raper to bake ~ faire cuire

More verbs: to pour ~ verser to spread ~ étaler to beat ~ battre to dice ~ couper en dés to slice ~ couper (en tranches) to beat egg whites until stiff ~ battre les blancs dœufs en neige ferme

More useful vocabulary: avant de commencer puis ensuite avant de finalement en même temps doucement rapidement lentement