what course is an entree

by Briana Miller 9 min read

Three-course meal

  • Appetizer
  • Main course (sometimes called Entree in North America)
  • Dessert

Modern French cuisine
In France, the modern meaning of "entrée" on a restaurant menu is the small course that precedes the main course in a three-course meal, i.e., the course which in British usage is often called the "starter" and in American usage the "appetizer".

Full Answer

Does entrée mean main course?

It's a culinary term that signifies a course during meal service, but which course depends on where you're dining. In the United States and parts of Canada, the word entrée is often used to mean the main dish part of a meal, such as a roast chicken with vegetables. However, in other countries, particularly Europe, it is not uncommon to hear the word entrée used to indicate a …

What is an entrée in Europe?

Aug 29, 2017 · The entrée was the course between the fish and the roast, the roast being the most substantial part of the meal. It would consist of something lighter than the roast but heavier than the fish, like chicken, lobster, ragu, or pâté.

Is it okay to call main course entrée?

In France, also in the 1930s, entrée took on the meaning of a light course of eggs or seafood served at the beginning of the meal. According to the OED, the meaning of entree is. A ‘made dish’, served between the fish and the joint.

When is an entrée served?

At that time, the “traditional French menu” was explained as consisting of five to six courses: soup, hors d’oeuvres (and/or fish), entrée (or entrées), a roast (the star of the show), a final course and then dessert. But who really ate five course meals …

Why is the main course called an entrée?

In the words of one old-fashioned culinary manual, it was supposed to be "easy to eat and pleasing to the appetite but not satisfying." Because it was served immediately preceding the centerpiece of the whole meal - the roast - it was called the "entree," being, in effect, the "entrance" to the really important part of ...Feb 11, 1996

What is the difference between an entrée and a main course?

Entrée is a French word that Americans use to say “main course.” However, France uses entrée to denote an appetizer, and calls the main course a “plat principal”… so what happened? It'd be easy just to blame this on Americans butchering another country's language, but that wouldn't be fair.Aug 29, 2017

What is the order of a 5 course meal?

5 course meal: A 5 course dinner menu includes an hors d'oeuvre, appetizer, salad, main course, and dessert.

What does entrée mean?

Definition of entrée 1a : the act or manner of entering : entrance. b : freedom of entry or access. 2 : the main course of a meal in the U.S.

What is the difference between an entrée and a starter?

In British English, a starter is the first course of a meal whereas an entree is a dish served before the main dish. However, in American English, a starter is an appetizer and an entree is a main course or dish. This is the key difference between starter and entree.Dec 15, 2016

Is entrée a starter or main?

Outside North America, it is generally synonymous with the terms hors d'oeuvre, appetizer, or starter. It may be the first dish served, or it may follow a soup or other small dish or dishes. In the United States and parts of Canada, the term entrée refers to the main dish or the only dish of a meal.

What is a 12 course meal?

The 12 Courses Typically, the 12+ course chef's tasting menu consists of hors-d'oeuvres, amuse-bouche, soup, appetizer, salad, fish, main course, palate cleaner, second main course, cheese course, dessert, and end of the meal dessert. You'll be able to choose your meal ahead of time when you make your reservations.

Are hors d'oeuvres and appetizers the same thing?

Time Eaten: Hors d'oeuvres are typically served before the meal even begins, while appetizers tend to indicate the beginning of the meal. An hors d'oeuvre isn't considered to be part of the meal, but appetizers are usually chosen specifically to compliment the following courses.

How many courses is an Italian meal?

Typically an Italian meal consists of four courses (starter, first course, main course, and dessert), although this can be stretched to eight courses or more (starter, first course, fish main course, meat main course, cheese, and dessert). Do not feel obligated to eat this many courses.

Is it an or a entrée?

If you decide to order the chicken, you've just selected your entree. Entree, pronounced "ON-tray" and sometimes spelled entrée, is another word for main course, at least as it's usually used in this country. Sometimes people talk about having an entree into society, or into some club.

Should entrée have an accent mark?

One more thing: Do you have to use the accent on “entrée”? Only if you want to impress someone, or charge more for your food. “Entree” has thoroughly entered English (though some dictionaries prefer the accent). And though it's feminine in French, we Americans use the double “e” even if our “entree” is a lot of bull.Dec 22, 2014

What does it mean to gain entrée?

or en·tree the privilege of entering; access. a means of obtaining entry: His friendship with an actor's son was his entrée into the theatrical world. the act of entering; entrance.

What is an entrée?

Someone asked me why Americans use the word entree to refer to the main course of a dinner, while in French and in British usage, entrée refers to a dish served before the main course. The unspoken criticism was that, when it comes to matters of language, Americans always get things wrong.

Where does the word "entrée" come from?

Entrée comes from a word meaning “entrance.”. In the 16th century, the first dish at a fancy dinner wasn’t just plunked down on the table. It was brought in by a procession of liveried servants to the sound of trumpet fanfares.

What is the French entrée?

By the 1650s, the French entrée was a hot meat dish served after the soup. The word continued to have this meaning until after 1921, when it came to have its present French meaning of “a light first course.”. The OED dates the earliest English use of the word entree with a culinary meaning at 1759: 1759 W. VERRAL Cookery 46 Roasted ham.

What does "entree" mean in food?

Up until World War I, in France, Britain, and the United States, the word entree retained the meaning of “a substantial meat course served after the soup/fish and before the roast.”. Eating habits change. A huge meal with numerous meat dishes is no longer the norm. In the United States, by the 1930s, the meaning of the word entree began ...

What is an entrée in France?

According to the OED, the meaning of entree is. A ‘made dish’, served between the fish and the joint.

What is a meal course?

A meal course is a single food item or a set of food items served at once, such as a sandwich, soup and crackers, or steak and mashed potatoes. An average meal consists of one or more meal courses.

What is a full course meal?

A full course dinner is a meal featuring multiple courses. The basic full course meal consists of three or four courses. Full course meals normally begin with precursors to a main dish, such as an amuse-bouche or soup, followed by the main course (s), and they are finished off with sweets, coffee, and tea.

What is course 5?

Course Five - Salad. This course is usually an assortment of raw vegetables with a flavorful dressing. In some parts of Europe, salad is served after the main course, but it is also common to serve salad before. Garden salad with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and tart vinaigrette. Chopped Thai salad with peanut dressing.

Can you serve a full course meal casually?

The way you serve or enjoy a full course meal is up to your discretion and can be as casual or formal as you prefer. Below are some tips to curate a full course meal, along with information on traditional etiquette.

What are some good vegetarian entrees?

Cheese stuffed pasta shells is a popular vegetarian entree. Vegetarian entrees typically contain vegetables and whole grains. Vegetarian lentil loaf can be served with traditional meatloaf side dishes, like mashed potatoes and green beans, as an entree. Steak and potato soup may be hearty enough to be an entree.

What is an Italian meatball?

Italian meat balls are a type of entree that probably wouldn’t be served as a main course. Other meat entrees, like pepper steak or chili, can make up the bulk of a meal. When it comes to entree foods, a lot depends on how they are scaled when served.

What is a crab cake?

Dee Jones. Dee Jones. Crab cakes, a seafood entree. The word entree means different things in different parts of the world. In the United States, for example, the entree is usually the main course or main part of the meal while, in Europe, the entree is an appetizer or starter that is served before the main course.

Is pasta a vegetarian entree?

Pasta can be a major component in a vegetarian entree, as in vegetable and pasta salad. Vegetarian entrees typically contain vegetables and whole grains. Another common type of entree is soup. As with other entrees, soup can either be served as the starter for a full course meal, or as the main course. Some popular soup and stew entrees include ...

Can vegetarians eat meat?

Vegetarian entrees don’t contain any meat or seafood. Almost any entree that uses meat or seafood can be made into a vegetarian dish by making some substitutions. For example, some popular vegetarian entrees include vegetarian stuffed peppers, vegetarian chili, vegetarian nachos, and vegetarian egg rolls.

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Overview

Early use of the term

The word entrée as a culinary term first appears in print around 1536, in the Petit traicté auquel verrez la maniere de faire cuisine, in a collection of menus at the end of the book. There, the first stage of each meal is called the entree de table (entrance to the table); the second stage consists of potaiges (foods boiled or simmered "in pots"); the third consists of one or more services de rost(meat or fowl "roasted" in dry heat); and the last is the issue de table (departure from the table). …

"Classical Order" of service

The stages of the meal underwent several significant changes between the mid-16th and mid-17th century, and notably, the entrée became the second stage of the meal, and potagebecame the first. At this point, the term "entrée" had lost its literal meaning and had come to refer to a certain type of dish, unrelated to its place in the meal. The cookbooks and dictionaries of the 17th and 18th centuries rarely discuss directly the composition of the dishes for each stage of the m…

Changes in the 19th century

In the 19th century, due at least in part to the collapse of the church's authority in France, rules governing meat and lean days were followed irregularly. In particular, fish was commonly served on meat days, providing even more variety to the meal. Fish came to be considered a classic relevé, and in some cases was served as a separate "fish course". After the 1820s, the bouilli was no longer routinely served at fine dinners. In addition, cold entrées became increasingly commo…

Modern French cuisine

In France, the modern meaning of "entrée" on a restaurant menu is the small course that precedes the main course in a three-course meal, i.e., the course which in British usage is often called the "starter" and in American usage the "appetizer". Thus a typical modern French three-course meal in a restaurant consists of "entrée" (first course or starter (UK); appetizer (U.S.)), followed by the "plat" or "plat principal" (the main course), and then dessert or cheese. This sequence is common…

Notes, References, and Sources

• Escoffier, Auguste (1907). A Guide to Modern Cookery. London: William Heinemann.
• Flandrin, Jean-Louis (2007) [2001]. Arranging the Meal: A History of Table Service in France [L’Ordre des mets]. Trans. Julie E. Johnson. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520238855.
Hyman, Philip; Hyman, Mary (1992). "Les livres de cuisine et le commerce des recettes en France aux 15e et 16e siècles". In Carole Lambert (ed.). Du manuscrit à la table. Paris, Montréal…

• Escoffier, Auguste (1907). A Guide to Modern Cookery. London: William Heinemann.
• Flandrin, Jean-Louis (2007) [2001]. Arranging the Meal: A History of Table Service in France [L’Ordre des mets]. Trans. Julie E. Johnson. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0520238855.
• Hyman, Philip; Hyman, Mary (1992). "Les livres de cuisine et le commerce des recettes en France aux 15e et 16e siècles". In Carole Lambert (ed.). Du manuscrit à la table. Paris, Montréal: Champ…

See also

• Full course dinner
• Food presentation

External links

• Recipes at Wikibook Cookbooks
• The Language of Food: Entrée