French cuisine is celebrated the world over for its delicious sauces, use of locally sourced seasonal ingredients, innovative chefs, and intricate, centuries-old traditions and techniques. While French restaurants evoke images of haute cuisine - fancy kitchens, world-famous chefs, and artfully presented plates of delicately flavored food - French cooking is also a gastronomic feast of rustic cooking, soups, stews, and roasted meats that balance sophistication and simplicity, tradition and taste.
Jenna Bush Hager, the former president's daughter, revealed her father's hack on an episode of the Today show. She explained, "He'll call the restaurant and order the meal before we get there so we don't have to wait. He has a little bit of a restless personality." Bush apparently has someone on his staff send him over the menu, and then call his family to take their order, too. It speeds up the process so much that they can be finished eating in 30 minutes.
When dining at a European restaurant, it's crucial to understand the difference between ordering à la carte and requesting a menu, as this can significantly affect your dining experience.