Explain the steps in menu construction and compilation.

1. 1 · Open in two lines. Menu construction is choosing the dishes for a meal; compilation is writing them in the correct order. Both decide how the meal pleases, nourishes and costs.
2. 2 · Draw the construction flow. [Flow: collect information → meal pattern → main dish → staple → accompaniments → starter → dessert and beverage → check and cost → compile]
3. 3 · Collect information and fix the meal pattern. Guests, budget, season, equipment, staff; courses per meal.
4. 4 · Choose the dishes.
   • Main dish first (costliest).
   • Staple and accompaniments to match it.
   • Starter, dessert and beverage last.
5. 5 · Check and cost. Nutrition, variety in colour, texture and flavour, cost per head, equipment and staff load; standardise recipes and fix portions.
6. 6 · Compilation. Write courses in sequence (classical order: hors d'oeuvre, potage … café), one language, correct names, accompaniments, prices, light-heavy-light.
7. 7 · In food service. An industrial canteen lunch built from the main dish outwards and costed before printing stays within the per-head allowance.
8. 8 · Close in one line. Careful construction and correct compilation give a menu that is balanced, attractive and affordable.

Scoring tip: Number the construction steps and add the French course list as a neat column; it shows you know compilation as well.