What is an example of mis-en-place?

Answer 1

mise en place is simply a restaurant kitchen preparation/arrangement that includes having everything ready to use: ingredients (washed, chopped, steamed, etc.), spices (most common ones lined up in bowls) cookware (pans ready, utensils organized) and equipment (ovens preheated, etc).

It is difficult enough to keep the orders in a restaurant flowing and a table's food prepared so that it's ready at the same time so it can all be served hot; a well-organized mise en place eliminates the precious wasted minutes that a chef loses when he has to search for or prepare these things.

It means to put the right things in the right place.

Mise en place can also be extended into you mental preparation. By having your work day figured out in order of priority, and/or going through a recipe or technique by reading and picturing it in your minds eye, you will have 'everything in place'.

Answer 2

Setting up all ingredients and equipment needed to make a specific recipe before starting to cook is an example of mise en place. This ensures that everything is organized and ready to go, making the cooking process more efficient and enjoyable.