French-esque

comparative more French-esque · superlative most French-esque · alternative Frenchesque

1. Resembling or characteristic of the French; somewhat French.

   As for the food — French-esque American — it’s still tasteful and (mostly) unpretentious.

   2007 April 20, Devra First, “Despite new plaudits, it’s still the Salts of the earth”, in The Boston Globe, volume 271, number 110, Boston, Mass., page D2, column 3

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   Marco Pierre White joined egos with Rocco Forte late in 1995 to liven up this heaven-to-behold gold mosaic-tiled Byzantine hall with a spiffy French-esque menu, executed by a pair of head chefs for a clientele used to exercising its taste buds at all the best places.

   1996, Kate Sekules, London by Night (Frommer’s), New York, N.Y.: Macmillan Travel, →ISBN, page 157

   We had one French-esque dessert, one fusion confection and one pure Thai sweet; they were all smashing. A wine-poached pear set in a pool of chocolate sauce and crowned by vanilla ice cream was as chic and Parisian as a tilted beret.

   2001 October 14, Andrea Clurfeld, “Origin: Somerville’s Thai-French experience”, in Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, N.J., page E9

   Chelsea Bistro & Bar 358 W. 23rd St. (8th & 9th Aves.) (212) 727-2026 French. Cozy, yes, hearty, yes. French-esque. Gourmet prices.

   2004, BlackBook List: Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Hotels, New York 2005, New York, N.Y.: BlackBook Media Corp., →ISBN, page 115

   The film also portrays the opening of Regret Rien, the French-esque restaurant of quirky family friend Aubrey (Timothy Spall), whose menu features tasty dishes involving brains, lamb tongue, and liver; prune quiche and pork cyst are a few of the specific menu items.

   2004, Gretchen Papazian, “Anorexia Envisioned: Mike Leigh’s Life is Sweet, Chul-Soo Park’s 301/302, and Todd Haynes’s Superstar”, in Anne L. Bower, editor, Reel Food: Essays on Food and Film, New York, N.Y.; Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, →ISBN, section 2 (Focus on Gender—The Body, the Spirit), page 152

   Though there are worthwhile restaurants on Ojai Avenue in the middle of town, among them relaxed, French-esque Suzanne’s Cuisine (No.502, 1-805 640 1961, closed Tue, $$$), the most esteemed eaterie in town is a short drive from the centre: […]

   2005, Time Out California, Time Out Guides Ltd, →ISBN, page 200, columns 1–2

2. Resembling or characteristic of the French language.

   Eric is a native French speaker. His English is French-esque. When I received the recipes, there was still some translation work to be done. A robot coupe? Vers in a bowl?

   2011, Bridget Asher, The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted, London: Allison & Busby, published 2012, →ISBN, page 403

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   Diamonique is Kathy Levine’s best friend. […] But Levine (pronounced le-VIN) has ridden her ability to hawk—everything from mock diamonds bearing a French[-]esque trade name to patterned sweaters to her own sparkling personality—to a surprising and burgeoning celebrity.

   1995 December 12, Steve Johnson, “Queen of QVC: Kathy Levine’s pitching is her road to big time”, in Chicago Tribune, 149th year, number 346, Chicago, Ill., section 5, page 1

   He and co-owner Brian Piccini opened Deuxave at the intersection of Commonwealth and Mass. Ave. in early September. (It’s pronounced “Dooh-ahhv,” with a silent “x,” a French-esque name inspired by the location.)

   2010 November 10, Devra First, “Super dishes in place of superstition: Deuxave sets its ambitions for the top”, in The Boston Globe, volume 278, number 133, Boston, Mass., section G, page 12, column 1