On 2005-02-22, -L. > wrote:
> Have you ever been madly cooking, on top of your game - and then BAM! -
> a "flat tire" - no pepper in the grinder, just ran out of the right
> kind of vinegar, need tomato puree and all you have is diced, etc.?

mise en place
[MEEZ ahn plahs]
A French term referring to having all the ingredients necessary for a
dish prepared and ready to combine up to the point of cooking.

nb