French for Grocery Stores and Restaurants
Metric measurements:
* 1 kilogram or “kilo” is about 2.2 pounds
* 1 liter is about the same as a quart
* 1 kilometer is .66 miles
Viande – meat – usually beef (boeuf) but can be mouton (sheep)
Viande hache – ground beef
Filet – a large piece of boneless meat (makes good BBQ beef)
Roti – roas
Steak – If you order ‘steak’ at the butcher counter he will cut the beef into ‘minute steaks’ and pound them for you.
Entrecote – rib steak
Veau – veal
Poulet – chicken
Poulet fume – smoked chicken
Dinde – turkey
Mouton – sheep
Porc – pork
Jambon – ham
Jambon fume – smoked ham
Poisson – fish
Capitaine – a locally caught, mild fish
There are many kinds of cheese (fromage) to choose from including:
Emmental – a cheese similar to Swiss cheese.
Gouda & Edam – mild, light colored cheeses that are used a lot by missionaries in recipes.
Mimolette – an orange, cheddar-looking cheese that is also nice for grated cheese in Mexican food recipes.
Parmesan – you can buy it by the chunk or freshly grated but be prepared to pay very well for it.
Fromage Blanc – “white cheese” – this is like cream cheese. Also sold in squares as Kiri. It takes about 11 Kiri squares to equal 8 oz. of American cream cheese.
La Vache Qui Ri – “The Cow Who Laughs” – a cheese spread – it is sometimes found in the U. S.A. where it is called “Laughing Cow Cheese”.
Yaourt – yogurt – found in many flavor varieties. Some missionaries make their own. It makes a great substitute in recipes when sour cream is not available. Add 1 Tbs. of vinegar per 1 cup of plain, unflavored yogurt.
Lait – milk- it is sold by the carton as ‘shelf-life’ or U.H.T. (ultra heat treated) milk, by the can or box as powdered, by the pouch as “lait frais” or fresh milk, or you can buy it straight from a Fulani person direct from the cow (you need to pasturize it before drinking). If you need buttermilk for a recipe just add 1Tbs. of vinegar per 1 cup of milk.
Oeufs – eggs – sold seperately – you buy as few or many as you want.
Beurre – butter
The price of meat and cheese is usually marked per ‘kilo’. If you want ½ kilo or about 1 pound then you say “demi kilo” when you place your order. If you want ¼ kilo (about ½ pound) then you say “quart kilo” (pronounced like “car”).
If you want something sliced (like ham for sandwich meat or cheese) you say “en tranche”. If you just want a big piece, not sliced, then you say “un morceau” (pronounced mor-so).
Common items
Jus – juice
Pomme – apple
Anana – pineapple
Fraise – strawberry
Raisin – grape
Orange – orange
Concombre – cucumber
Riz – rice
Legume de Saison – veggies of the season
Carotte – carrot
Frites – fried or French fries
Champignon – (literally: fungus) mushrooms
Citron – lemon
Citron Vert – lime
Salade – lettuce
Tomate – tomato
Banan – banana
Pomme du terre – potato
Haricot vert – green beans
Eau – water (like “oh”)
Brochette – like a shish-k-bob
C’est tout – (like “say two”) that’s everything, what you can say when you have finished ordering.
Ca va – It’s fine, that’s fine
Merci – Thank you
S’il vous plait – please
Bien cuit – well done or well cooked
Bonne Journee – Have a good day
Bon appetit – enjoy your meal
Ici – (like “E. C. “) here
Ca – that