chinoise

Chinoise is a French term with several uses in language and cuisine. It is the feminine form of the adjective chinois, meaning Chinese, and can refer to a Chinese woman in descriptive or literary text. In ordinary usage, it is simply the gendered form of the word for Chinese, not a distinct ethnicity label.

In culinary contexts, a chinoise is a conical strainer with a fine mesh used to strain sauces, stocks, and purées. The device, often made of stainless steel, is designed to remove solids and yield a very smooth liquid. It is typically used with a pestle or spoon to press the mixture through the mesh, producing a refined texture.

The phrase à la chinoise is used in French cookery to indicate that a dish or technique follows Chinese style, ingredients, or presentation. The expression appears in many traditional recipes and can denote a stylistic influence rather than a precise set of rules.

Origin and forms: the term derives from French chinois meaning "Chinese," itself from Latin Sinae. The feminine form chinoise follows standard gendered noun and adjective patterns in French.