Food Processors and French Cuisine
A Frenchman invented the food processor to help restaurants and caterers speed up food preparation time in the 1960s. Pierre Verdon invented the first food processor and named it the “Robert Coupe.” It wasn’t until 1972 that he designed a food processor for the home user called the “Magimix”.
In the United States, Carl Sontheimer introduced a food processor called the Cuisinart in 1973. Popular chefs such as Julia Child immediately embraced the food processor as a great time saver, and other companies soon offered models similar to the Cusinart. In the late 1970s, food processor sales soared into the hundreds of thousands.
Food processors are of two basic styles. Some have a single bowl and a flat blade that, depending on the skill of the operator, can handle almost any task. This is how Pierre Verdon’s original design worked. Today there are many accessories including additional bowls, a lid, chopping blades, mixing blades, and slicing and shredding discs. Now there are also many sizes. From mini food processors that hold 3 to 4 cups, small food processors that hold 6 to 9 cups, and full-size food processors that hold up to 14 cups.
Many Chefs have created different methods to take advantage of the flexibility of all the accessories and attachments. Now you can find recipes for everything from ice cream to salsa. There are cookbooks dedicated to using the food processor to prepare almost any type of food or dish. I’ve even seen a homemade soap recipe!
The Mini Food Processor has made a big impact on meal preparation because it is small and convenient. The majority of user complaints about a food processor is the time it takes to drag it out and then clean it for 5 minutes of use. The new Mini models are small and can be left on the kitchen counter for quick chopping or chopping tasks. These units are also dishwasher safe and that takes the hassle out of cleaning.
Many of the most popular French cooking recipes require some form of food preparation using a food processor. Although originally designed for restaurants and caterers due to the volume of cutting and mincing, even home users can benefit from the time savings and flexibility. Anyone can quickly learn how to add chopped fresh greens to any meal.
And when it comes to making just about any type of baking dough, a food processor comes in handy. Making fresh pasta, rolls or bread, cakes, and many fancy desserts is a quick process. Most food processors come with a handy guide for making almost any type of dough.
French cooking is all about using simple principles to create magnificent meals that are bursting with flavor and presented with flair. The French style of cooking involves sauces and spices that transform everyday vegetables into a gourmet meal. The art is as much in the preparation as in the presentation, and no detail is left to chance.
Common cooking techniques such as blanching, which involves boiling or blanching fruits and vegetables to maintain color and make it easier to remove the skin. Reduce sauces (remove moisture) to increase flavor and create rich color and texture. Roasting vegetables and meats before combining them into dishes that add a unique, caramelized look, texture, and flavor. Making fresh spices from raw ingredients has a much richer flavor that enhances any vegetable, meat, or fish.
French meals are of course often served with palate cleansers to allow each dish to be savored with its own flavor and taste. The French enjoy both cooking and eating; rarely do they rush through any of the techniques required for preparation or service. A well-prepared French meal is an event and should be enjoyed quietly.
French cooking is an art and a food processor comes in handy to save time and work. If you like to cook and spend a lot of time in the kitchen, a food processor can make your life much easier. Throw in some French cooking techniques and you could be a French chef.