Cooking & Markets

1. Où est le marché local ?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   "Où est ~?" is the standard French structure for asking where something is

2. Comment s'appelle cet ingrédient ?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "Comment s'appelle ~?" uses a reflexive verb meaning "how is it called?"

3. Ce plat est-il très épicé ?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "est-il ~?" is a formal inverted question structure. "très" means "very"

4. Pouvez-vous recommander un cours de cuisine ?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Polite request to recommend a local cooking class

   Grammar Note

   "Pouvez-vous ~?" is a polite inverted question meaning "can you ~?"

5. Comment prépare-t-on ce plat ?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "on" is an impersonal pronoun; "-t-" is a euphonic addition in the inverted form

6. Où puis-je acheter des légumes frais ?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   "puis-je" is the inverted form of "je peux" (I can) — a polite question

7. J'aimerais apprendre à cuisiner des plats locaux.

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "J'aimerais ~" uses the conditional tense to politely express desire

8. Avez-vous des ingrédients végétariens ?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "Avez-vous ~?" is a polite inverted question meaning "do you have ~?"

9. Quelles épices sont utilisées dans ce plat ?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about the spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "sont utilisées" is the present passive voice. "Quelles" is the plural feminine interrogative

10. Puis-je goûter un échantillon ?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    "Puis-je ~?" is the polite inverted question for permission: "may I ~?"

11. le tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Point to this when checking or buying the ingredient

12. la soupe

    Soup

    Usage

    Point to this to order or refer to soup; a clear broth is "le bouillon"

13. les fruits

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point to this when buying fruit or checking whether a dish contains it

    Grammar Note

    Masculine plural; the singular is "le fruit"

14. l'ail

    Garlic

    Usage

    Point to this to check for garlic; "without garlic" is "Sans ail"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun elided to "l'"

15. l'oignon

    Onion

    Usage

    Point to this to check for onion

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun elided to "l'"

16. le piment

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    Point to this to check for chili; "without chili" is "Sans piment"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a bell pepper is a different word, "le poivron"

17. la coriandre fraîche

    Fresh coriander

    Usage

    Point to this to check for fresh coriander; "without coriander" is "Sans coriandre"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "coriandre" alone can also mean dried coriander seed, so keep "fraîche"

18. le gingembre

    Ginger

    Usage

    Point to this to check for ginger or to buy it

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