entrée
Dinner's central plate
An entrée is the main course of a meal in American English: The entrée comes with a choice of two sides.
In British and older usage, entrée refers to a dish served before the main course—closer to an appetizer.
The word comes from French, where it originally meant an entry or beginning.
This transatlantic split causes confusion: what Americans call the entrée, the British call the main course.
Primary dish served
- platterLarge flat serving dish
- servingMeasured food portion
- portionDivided share given
- coursePlanned path forward
dinner · lunch · supper · meal · roast · protein · steak · chicken
Entry or confession
- gatewayPoint of access
- doorwayPassage into a room
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- introductionPreliminary section or presentation
opening · beginning · initiation · debut · foothold · opportunity · inroad · passport
Characteristic cooking style
- gourmetConnoisseur of fine cuisine
- chefProfessional kitchen leader
- restaurantPlace serving meals
- diningEating a meal
bistro · brasserie · fine dining · tasting menu · prix fixe · à la carte · sommelier · maître d'
Purified or cultured
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- haute cuisineElevated culinary artistry
- upscaleElegant and expensive
- luxuriousMarked by costly elegance
sumptuous · exquisite · deluxe · formal · silver service · white tablecloth · Michelin · establishment
Light dish preceding main
- hors-d'oeuvreSmall savory appetizer
- antipastoItalian appetizer course
- amuse-boucheComplimentary chef's tasting bite
- first courseInitial dish served
small plate · canapé · bruschetta · ceviche · meze · sampler · soup · salad
main course
Primary dish served
course · dinner · lunch · supper · meal · roast · protein · steak · chicken · fish
admission
Entry or confession
introduction · opening · beginning · initiation · debut · foothold · opportunity · inroad · passport · key
cuisine
Characteristic cooking style
- gourmetConnoisseur of fine cuisine
- chefProfessional kitchen leader
- restaurantPlace serving meals
dining · bistro · brasserie · fine dining · tasting menu · prix fixe · à la carte · sommelier · maître d' · plating
refined
Purified or cultured
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- haute cuisineElevated culinary artistry
- upscaleElegant and expensive
luxurious · sumptuous · exquisite · deluxe · formal · silver service · white tablecloth · Michelin · establishment · exclusive
appetizer
Light dish preceding main
- hors-d'oeuvreSmall savory appetizer
- antipastoItalian appetizer course
- amuse-boucheComplimentary chef's tasting bite
first course · small plate · canapé · bruschetta · ceviche · meze · sampler · soup · salad · pâté
- false friendsactual, actually, embarrassed, eventually, fabric
- dancesballet, waltz, tango, salsa, hula
entréeside dish
Secondary food portion
dessert · appetizer · hors d'oeuvre · starter · accompaniment
- no entryAccess not permitted
- entry pointWhere access begins
- make an entranceArrive dramatically, memorably
- data entryRecording information digitally
- main entrancePrincipal point of entry
- entrance examTest for acceptance