What is a "cuisine à la minute"?

"Cuisine à la minute" is a culinary style that emphasizes the preparation of food to order, ensuring that dishes are made fresh and served immediately after cooking. This approach highlights the importance of using high-quality, fresh ingredients and the skill of the chef in executing dishes right at the moment they are requested. By focusing on real-time preparation, this method maximizes the flavors and textures of the ingredients, which can often diminish in pre-cooked or bulk-prepared meals.

This cooking style requires a well-organized kitchen system, as it places significant demands on timing and efficiency. Chefs working with "cuisine à la minute" must be adept at multitasking, prioritizing orders, and working quickly to produce dishes that are both delicious and visually appealing upon service. This stands in contrast to methods that involve bulk preparation or pre-prepared ingredients, which can compromise the quality and freshness that characterize dishes made "à la minute."