Latest / Learn French with Fexingo / French Cooking: Flambé & Simmer Basics
Transcript
- Lucas: Welcome back to Learn French with Fexingo. I am Lucas. Luna: And I am Luna. Hi everyone. It is so good to be back in the kitchen with you. Lucas: It really is. We have covered chopping, boiling, and even kneading dough recently. Luna: Right. Ep 279 was about plating, which felt like the grand finale of dinner. Lucas: Exactly. But tonight we are going back to the stove. Specifically, the high heat. Luna: Oh, I love the drama of the stove. The fire, the flames. Lucas: We are talking about one specific technique today. It is called flambéing. Luna: I have seen chefs do this. They pour alcohol into a pan and it catches fire. Lucas: Yes. And we need the phrase for that action. Listen closely. Lucas: Flamber le plat. Luna: Flamber le plat. Lucas: Very good. It means to set the dish on fire, or to flame the dish. Luna: Okay. Flamber le plat. That sounds dangerous but exciting. Lucas: It is theatrical. Let us try it again, slowly. Lucas: Flamber le plat. Luna: Flamber le plat. Lucas: Perfect. Now, imagine you are making Crêpes Suzette. You add the Grand Marnier. Luna: And then... whoosh. The blue flames go up. Lucas: You say: Je vais flamber le plat. Luna: Je vais flamber le plat. Lucas: Excellent. You are ready to perform. Luna: I feel like I should wear a chef's hat just to say this. Lucas: Maybe a scarf would be safer. Just kidding. Now, what happens after the fire dies down? Luna: The sauce needs to thicken? It cannot boil violently? Lucas: Correct. Boiling can ruin the texture. We need gentle heat. Lucas: Here is the next phrase. Laisser frémir. Luna: Laisser frémir. Lucas: To let it simmer. Or to let it bubble gently. Luna: Laisser frémir. Frémir... like a shiver? Or a murmur? Lucas: A small, gentle movement. Like water bubbling quietly. Luna: Got it. Laisser frémir. Not a rolling boil. Lucas: Not at all. A rolling boil is too aggressive here. Luna: Let me repeat that. Laisser frémir. Lucas: Again. Lucas: Laisser frémir. Luna: Laisser frémir. Lucas: Wonderful. So, you have flamed the dish, and now you must adjust the heat. Luna: How do I tell my sous-chef to turn down the burner? Lucas: You use this phrase. Le feu est doux. Luna: Le feu est doux. Lucas: The heat is gentle. Or the fire is soft. Luna: Le feu est doux. I like that. It sounds very peaceful. Lucas: It is the opposite of the dramatic flambé. Very calm. Luna: Le feu est doux. Let me try the whole sequence. Luna: D'abord, je flambe le plat. Ensuite, je laisse frémir. Et le feu est doux. Lucas: That was perfect. You sound like a professional French chef. Luna: Really? Oh, that feels good. I will practice this in my imaginary kitchen. Lucas: Before we go deeper into the sauce, I want to mention something important. Lucas: If Fexingo has been helping you make actual progress with this language, consider supporting us directly. Lucas: We deliberately do not run ads on these episodes. If you want to support that choice, the link is buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo — that's F. E. X. I. N. G. O. Luna: Yeah. It keeps the show clean and focused on learning without interruptions. Lucas: Thank you for listening. Now, back to the pan. Luna: Back to the pan. So, if the sauce is burning, what do I say? Lucas: You remind them: Le feu est doux. Keep it gentle. Luna: Le feu est doux. Right. Okay, I am lowering the knob. Lucas: Good. Now watch the bubbles. Laisser frémir. Luna: Laisser frémir. Just tiny bubbles. Yes. Lucas: Exactly. This is how you make a rich sauce. No rushing. Luna: It is meditative. I could stand here stirring forever. Lucas: Just don't forget to flamber le plat when the recipe calls for it. Luna: Ah, yes. The fireworks. Flamber le plat. Lucas: One more time for rhythm. Flamber le plat. Luna: Flamber le plat. Lucas: Laisser frémir. Luna: Laisser frémir. Lucas: Le feu est doux. Luna: Le feu est doux. Lucas: You are getting very comfortable with these. Luna: I think I finally understand the difference between boiling and simmering. Lucas: Boiling is loud. Simmering is quiet. Le feu est doux. Luna: Quiet is better for the sauce. And the neighbors. Lucas: True. We do not want to scare the neighbors with our flambéing. Luna: Unless we are doing it outside. Then maybe a little fire is okay. Lucas: Safety first, Luna. Always keep le feu sous contrôle. Luna: Right. Under control. Okay, I will take notes. Lucas: Write this down: Flamber le plat. Laisser frémir. Le feu est doux. Luna: Flamber le plat. Laisser frémir. Le feu est doux. Lucas: Say it one last time, slowly. Luna: Flamber le plat. Laisser frémir. Le feu est doux. Lucas: Beautifully done. That is all for today's cooking lesson. Luna: Bon appétit to everyone making dinner tonight. Lucas: Keep practicing these phrases until we chat again. Luna: See you next time!