En francais..

[jonarizmendi]

Hi!

I went to Paris last weekend and it was embarassing not knowing how to ask for the meat rare, well cooked, etc...does anyone know how to say all that? thanks a lot!!

[Buenchico]

Rare is 'saignant' (pronounced sain-yan, with the final n partly suppressed).

Well done is 'bien cuit' (with the second word pronounced as kwee).

I'm not sure what the French use for 'medium' (when referring to steak) but 'milieu' or possibly 'milieu cuit' would almost certainly be understood by your waiter.

Chris

[JoolsTwo]

Rare is - un bifteck bleu. Well done is - bein cuit. If I remember correctly. But it would pay you to get a good phrase book for next time. They usually have those sort of phrases in them.

[mushroom25]

medium is "a point", literally, "on the turn".

bear in mind that if you ask for bien cuit in France, it will not turn up looking like you might expect it to if you ordered "well done" in the UK - similarly, "a point" will often turn up looking almost alive.

If you like your meat well done, add a few arm actions to your "bien cuit" just to emphasise the matter.

[dzug]

If you ask for it bien cuit you'll get it medium - the French don't understand the concept of well done.

[THAIBUS]

However you ask for it in French or English it will turn up Rare on your plate if you are in France

[Gef]

When in France do as the French do. They know how to cook steak - and most other things.

[SteveD]

SEARED = bleu

RARE = saignant

MEDIUM = � point

WELL DONE = bien cuit

Go for "� point". If it's a decent cut of meat it will be delicious.

[SteveD]

I forgot to mention that, if you order lamb or "magret de canard" (duck breast) you will probably also be asked for your preference regarding "la cuisson". In these cases "ros�" should result in you being served meat which is pink in the middle and tender under the knife.