Fluent Foodie: 10 culinary words to learn before your next dinner date

Food content is everywhere now.

One scroll through TikTok, Instagram or YouTube and you will hear people casually throwing around words like “gourmet,”“umami” or “artisan” like everybody was born knowing what they mean.

Somehow, food has developed its own language, and if you are not deeply immersed in restaurant culture or online food spaces, it can sometimes feel like people are speaking in code over a plate of pasta.

The funny thing is that many of these terms are actually very simple once somebody explains them properly.

So here are some popular food and restaurant terms you have probably heard before and what they actually mean.

Gourmet

Gourmet basically refers to food that is considered high quality, carefully prepared or more refined than everyday meals. It often means extra attention was paid to ingredients, presentation or cooking technique. That said, some restaurants use “gourmet” very loosely. Adding parsley on top of fries does not automatically make them gourmet.

Fusion

Fusion food combines elements from different cultures or cuisines into one dish. For example, suya pizza or jollof risotto would count as fusion meals because they mix Nigerian flavors with dishes from other parts of the world. When done properly, fusion can be exciting. When done badly, it can feel very confusing.

Al Dente

You will mostly hear this term when talking about pasta. Al dente is an Italian phrase that means “to the tooth.” It simply describes pasta that is cooked until it is firm when bitten, not soft and soggy.

Artisan

Artisan usually refers to food made in a more traditional or handcrafted way instead of mass production. So when you hear “artisan bread,” the restaurant is trying to say the bread was freshly made with extra care. Sometimes it is true. Sometimes it is just branding.

Platter

A platter is simply a large serving that contains different food items together. Restaurants often use platters for group meals or combo servings. Think grilled chicken, fries, wings and sausages all served on one tray.

Signature dish

This is the meal a restaurant is most known for. It is usually the dish they believe best represents their brand or cooking style. If a waiter recommends the signature dish, that is often the restaurant’s pride and joy.

Infused

Infused means an ingredient has been soaked or blended with another flavor over time. For example, a lemon infused drink simply means lemon flavor has been added deeply into the drink instead of just squeezed on top. Restaurants love this word because it sounds expensive.

À la Carte

À la carte is a French phrase that means “according to the menu”, or more literally, “by the card.”When a restaurant is à la carte, it means each item on the menu is priced and ordered separately. You build your meal yourself, you choose a starter, you choose a main, you choose a side, you choose a dessert, and you pay for each one individually.

Umami

Umami is known as the fifth basic taste alongside sweet, salty, sour and bitter. It describes that rich, savory flavor often found in grilled meat, mushrooms, soy sauce or well seasoned broths. The word is Japanese and roughly translates to “pleasant savoury taste.” It is the reason a good broth tastes the way it does, and why some dishes make you want to keep eating past the point of hunger.

Mise en Place

A French phrase that means “everything in its place.” It refers to the practice of preparing and organising all your ingredients before you begin cooking — chopping, measuring, portioning, arranging, so that when you start, everything you need is already within reach. It is a professional kitchen discipline, but it explains a lot about why restaurant food often comes together so quickly once you order.