Contrary to popular belief, one of the best things about French cuisine is
its lack of pretense. What are really very commonplace ingredients come together
for extraordinary results. Following are some that lie at the heart of French
cooking:
Shallots
Flat-leaf parsley
Unsalted butter
Sea salt
Artichokes
Garlic
Gruyere cheese
Leeks
Rosemary
Chicken stock
Dijon mustard
Curry powder
Wine