What is the classic haute cuisine meal?

Franca · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 94 Location: Worldwide

Hi all! I'm writing an article about what to order if it's your first time having haute cuisine French food. What would you all recommend? And part 2 of this question: Is the standard sequence of the meal- aperitif, appetizer, main course, dessert (with coffee), cheese, digestif? Or is there no coffee, or cheese before dessert? Thanks for your feedback!
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Barbara · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 5:15 am Post subject:

I always serve the cheese before dessert.
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Barbara

Franca · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 94 Location: Worldwide

A bit of net searching seems to say that this is the way it's supposed to be. And that coffee is its own course as well (served after dessert, not with).

Thanks for your feedback!
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Bonnie · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 14 Location: Cambridge, UK

This debate I remember reading about somewhere, long ago from some website, magazine or book. It said that the tradition of the cheese course will depend on where you serve it:

In France - before dessert
In England - after dessert

It didn't mention any other country, but as they say, "when in Rome..."
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simona · Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Posts: 696 Location: israel

I'm still waiting for our french friends to answer the first part of the question:what do you reccommend to order for a haute cuisine meal.Cheese is not the meal, and of course it's not served after the mousse au chocolat. But what before the cheese ? I do have ideas, but I'm still waiting for the French to "pick up the glove" ( meet up the challenge?).

No more war, let us eat haute cuisine in peace!

JM · Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Montreal, QC

Cheese before dessert. The plates should not be the same ones you used for dinner, nor the same ones you will use for dessert.

Coffee after dessert, sometimes with a piece of bitter chocolate.

simona · Joined: 11 Mar 2005 Posts: 696 Location: israel

I have read the article about haute cuisine on the FoodVirgin blog. Well,
I understand the writer did not have time to wait for suggestions from our forum friends, but there was no date limit. I hope next time we will be quicker in responding to a friend's request. Meanwhile, the poor cheese course remains in limbo.

No more war, vive la haute cuisine Francaise!

Erin · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 4:07 pm Post subject:

The cheese stands alone.......
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Barbara · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:37 pm Post subject:

There is a reason the cheese is served before dessert. It was served after the meat course so any red wine left from the meat course could accompany the cheese A special dessert wine is then served with the dessert course.
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Barbara

Franca · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 94 Location: Worldwide

Barbara, that's an excellent point! I forgot that dessert would have dessert wines. This makes logic sense, then for cheese to come before.

Simona, it's not too late! I actually posted up the article with the intent to edit it again to put in these missing details, and fix any errors. Am still curious to hear from French people what they'd say a quintessential Haute meal would be, and what would be good for newbies.

I'll try to give more lead time when I ask questions here next time, though. Embarassed

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bulkarn · Joined: 10 May 2006 Posts: 32

this is a very late response but I returned from Paris last night and can tell you that in haute and bas cuisine--perhaps cusine ordinaire? coffee is last, by itself, cheese between entree and dessert. plus, the haute restaurants, even medium haute, the meal begins with a complimentary amuse bouche, which is not considered the appetizer, which follows. Good luck with the article. Is it available to read?
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Franca · Joined: 18 May 2006 Posts: 94 Location: Worldwide

You can read it at http://www.foodvirgin.com/columns/FrenchHaute.htm . I will actually be interviewing a French chef to add some weight and nuances, and any surprises that they'd like us all to know. The main gist of the article is up now, though. Feel free to suggest any additional tips if you think of any that you think are important.
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