What better way to enjoy life than to explore the wonders of French cuisine? Known worldwide but not yet quite as popular as Mexican or Italian, it is well worth getting into. From easy-to-make faves to some rather complex dishes, it includes boeuf bourguignon, assoulet, and confit de canard. If some of these names sound straight up confusing - don't worry. Having an introduction to the history and terminology of French cuisine will help you bridge the gap and figure out what's what.

You won't immediately jump into something super elaborate. Start simple. Look for a few traditional recipes and take it easy. Try making a good old onion soup - or perhaps coq au vin. Neither of the two dishes should be too demanding nor require too many obscure ingredients. You can also see what you already have in your fridge or pantry - and structure your first foray into the French cuisine that way—no need to waste a ton of money to make some truly delicious food. Take your time to practice, and soon you'll be ready for more complex recipes.

Still, one question may remain - how do you know if your culinary adventure was successful? You need to compare it to some benchmark. So why not see (and taste) what the pros are doing? You don't need to go to Paris for that. Use TheFork to find excellent French restaurants near you. Give something made by a real chef a try, see how it compares to your dishes, and learn how to improve. It will give you the motivation to get better at what you already enjoy doing.