French Cooking Basics - in this section you'll discover the basic cooking methods, with detailed information regarding the procedure and the French phrase for that type of cooking method. Although some French cooking techniques can be quite exacting, overall they are basic in procedure.  However, this does not mean that the French chef will brook any type of shortcut or inferior products being used in their 'pièce de résistance'.  They shop daily for the freshest meats, produce and herbs that play such a big part of French cuisine. The 'Cooking Basics Table'.