A- ‘à la’
The abc of Food Cooking and People
A
‘à la’
The abc of Food Cooking and People “à la” is indeed a French term used in culinary contexts to describe a dish or ingredient prepared in a particular style or with certain accompaniments. It translates to “in the style of” or “according to” in English. For example: Poulet à la Provençale would mean “chicken in the style of Provence.” Salade à la Niçoise would be “salad in the style of Nice.” Steak au poivre would be “steak with pepper.” The usage of “à la” varies depending on the gender of the noun it accompanies. It’s “à la” for feminine nouns, “au” for masculine nouns, and “aux” for plural nouns, regardless of gender. It’s a handy term to know when discussing or ordering food in French cuisine!
