{"id":5786,"date":"2022-09-14T16:39:57","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T16:39:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=5786"},"modified":"2022-09-14T16:39:57","modified_gmt":"2022-09-14T16:39:57","slug":"a-la-carte-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/a-la-carte-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"A La Carte \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you heading to an 'a la carte' <\/em><\/strong>restaurant for a special dinner? What can you expect from the menu and the meal? This post unpacks the origin and meaning of this phrase.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression 'a la carte' <\/em>is a French expression meaning<\/u> 'according to the card<\/em>.' The 'card<\/em>' in the saying refers to a menu<\/u>. The correct French spelling<\/u> is '\u00c0 la carte.'<\/em> However, the English spelling<\/u> of the word usually leaves out the accent from the phrase.<\/u><\/p>\n

The term 'a la carte'<\/em> refers to food items ordered separately,<\/u> with individual pricing for each dish<\/u>. It's the opposite of<\/u> a 'table d'h\u00f4te' <\/em>menu, which offers the complete meal at a fixed price.<\/u><\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cAre we going to the French restaurant tonight? I love their \u2018a la carte\u2019 menu. It\u2019s amazing. I hear they just hired a Michelin-star chef. I can\u2019t wait to try the food this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFrench restaurants and a la carte menus are overrated. You get a tiny piece of food that costs a fortune, and I never feel full after my meal. What a waste of time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re all about In-and-Out and love your burgers and fries, don\u2019t ever have dinner at an a la carte restaurant. You\u2019ll regret your decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the a la carte dining experience. It\u2019s so fancy, and I always feel like I\u2019m rich when I\u2019m eating at a French restaurant.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people spend their spare cash on clothing and entertainment. I choose to spend mine on high-quality dining experiences. I find nothing more satisfying than staring at an a la carte menu.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, you\u2019re one of those who enjoy a la carte dining? How can you get any value from those meals? They\u2019re tiny and so expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe aim to give your company an a la carte, customized experience when setting up your digital systems. We tailor everything to meet your company\u2019s individual needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI love a good a la carte menu prepared by a three-star Michelin chef. There\u2019s something about good food that just tickles the delight centers in my brain. I love every bite I take of the meal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression 'a la carte' originates from French. However, language experts are unsure who introduced the word's first use in English-speaking communities. The phrase entered English use in the early 1800s.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the first recorded use of the phrase wasn't to describe food. The first citation of the expression in English comes from Joseph Sherer, in his book, 'Notes and Reflections During a Ramble in Germany,' published in 1826, where it appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\"He will find comfortable apartments, civil attendance, excellent fare, \u00e0 la carte, at any hour.\"<\/p>\n

The use of the phrase in this context refers to apartment buildings. The speaker is referring to the customized options available to tenants.<\/p>\n