why is the main course called entree?

The American usage of the word entrée to mean the main course reflects the changing history of American food culture over the past century. Misnomer or not, the word marks that change and for that reason, it’s well worth keeping.

Full Answer

What is entrée?

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?

What is the difference between Main Course and entreé?

Now the entrée is served before the main course or plat. Since most modern meals are at most a few courses, the entreé is the first course once again in France and much of Europe. Thus the word entrée has gone from referring to the first course to a later course and back again, causing confusion for traveling diners everywhere.

What is the first course in a restaurant called?

Since most modern meals are at most a few courses, the entreé is the first course once again in France and much of Europe. Thus the word entrée has gone from referring to the first course to a later course and back again, causing confusion for traveling diners everywhere.

Are All entrées served hot or cold?

All entrées were served hot, and this was a salient feature of entrées until the 19th century. These distinctions were at first loosely observed, or perhaps more accurately, the "rules" were in a formative stage for several decades.

Is the main course called entrée?

In the US, the entrée became the main course, and appetizers or starters became the first course. In France, the entrée stuck with its translation (“start,” “beginning,” “entry”) and position of being the course before the roast, thus becoming the first course.

Are entrees and main dishes the same?

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 the literal meaning of entrée?

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 main course called?

entréeIn the United States and Canada (except Quebec), the main course is traditionally called an "entrée". English-speaking Québécois follow the modern French use of the term entrée to refer to a dish served before the main course.

What makes an entrée and entrée?

The word entrée means "entrance" or "beginning" in French, but when an entrée is served has changed over the years. During the 16th century, entrées were served at the beginning of the meal.

What does entrée mean in food?

the main coursecountable noun. At restaurants or formal dinners, the entrée is the main course, or sometimes a dish before the main course. Dinner features a hot entrée of chicken, veal, or lamb. Synonyms: starter, appetizer More Synonyms of entree.

What is the difference between an entrée and a dinner?

In most countries, entrée is a dish served before the meal. In this sense, an entrée is the same as an appetizer, starter or hors d'oeuvres. However, in the United States and some parts of Canada, entrée refers to the main meal or the only dish of the meal.

Is pizza an entrée?

Entree means a food that is generally regarded as being the primary food in a meal and includes, but is not limited to, sandwiches, burritos, pasta and pizza.

Is appetizer and entrée the same?

Appetizer is a word common all over the world for small food items that are served before the meal, to increase the appetite of the people. In US, entree is often used to indicate the part of the main course in a meal.

What is the word for a starter course?

Americans get made fun of a fair bit for using the word entrée . In the UK, Australia and New Zealand, the word entrée refers to a starter course or courses, coming after the appetizers but before the main course.

How many courses are there in a French menu?

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.

Why did menus become simplified?

Menus became simplified to reflect the changes of a modern world. All of this was cemented by the Great Depression and WWII. The word entrée remained in the American lexicon but the meaning changed in accord with a change in custom.

Why were hors d'oeuvres simplified?

Menus became simplified to reflect the changes of a modern world.

When was the word "entrée" first used?

EDIT (June 10 2015) In 1555, when entrée was first used to refer to the first course of a French meal, the privileged classes staged sumptuous dinners. 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.

What was the first course of French food?

This first course was termed the entrée de table. After the entree (or entrees) came the soup, and after the soup, the roast, and after the roast, the final course. According to food historians, this order of service gradually changed. By the 1650s, the French entrée was a hot meat dish served after the soup.

What does "oed" mean in French?

8. The French word doesn't actually mean "appetizer"; it comes from a dish introduced between two courses in a formal dinner. It may originally have come from the word "entrance" and even changed in its French meaning. OED has a citation.

What does "service à la russe" mean?

Service à la russe means that you have several courses, which are brought to the table as the previous one is finished, or ideally after just the right length of pause (a skill that sets a Michelin star quality meal apart from a merely excellent one, in itself).

What is an entrée?

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 first course, appetizer, or starter. This can include hors d'oeuvre, soup, or salad. ...

What is an entrée in cooking?

It's a culinary term that signifies a course during meal service, but which course depends on where you're dining.

What does "entrée" mean in food?

The word entrée (pronounced "ON-tray") can be a confusing one, especially for world travelers. 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, ...

What is the first course of a French meal?

The first course would usually be a soup, followed by an intermediate course, usually some sort of fish or shellfish.

What to serve after fish course?

After the fish course would come the entrée, which might feature poultry, or lobster, or possibly even a cold item such as aspic, chaud-froid, or pâté. A hot meat course, such as roast beef or lamb, would follow the entrée. Vegetables, side dishes, and sweet items would follow.

What is steakhouse entree?

Steakhouse Entrées. To add even more confusion, the word can also refer specifically to the protein (or otherwise central) component of a dish, as opposed to its accompaniments. Certain steakhouses, for example, allow a patron to select from various cuts of steak, such as a rib-eye, New York strip or porterhouse, ...

Is steak an entrée?

Customers then select their accompaniments or side dishes, such as a baked potato or choice of vegetable, separately. Thus the steak on its own is the entrée, and the potato and vegeta ble are the sides . In cases like this, the menu has usually been arranged to signify that the meat is to be considered the entrée.

How a spear becomes narrow-minded

One of my favorite word etymologies, curtesy of a comment from a Redditor whose name I can’t remember, so forgive me for stealing your story but it’s too good not to share.

Why are male children referred to as "masters"? And is there an equivalent for female children?

My son's hospital ID band referred to him as Master ______ and I've seen it in other places such as Batman where Alfred says "Come along young master Bruce," though I'd initially assumed that was because he was now the master of Wayne Manor. It seems an odd thing to call children as they aren't masters of anything really.

What is the etymology of "smoking" in Italian, meaning tuxedo?

Edit: Just to add some more context, I did assume that it was from smoking jacket. But that struck me as a bit weird. Is it common for loan words to only take the adjective from a compound noun?