In
dining, a
course is a specific set of
food items that are served together during a
meal, all at the same time. A course may include multiple
dishes or only one, and often includes items with some variety of
flavors. For instance, a
hamburger served with
fries would be considered a single course, and most likely the entire meal. Likewise, an extended
banquet might include
many courses, such as a course where a
soup is served by itself, a course where
cordon bleu is served at the same time as its
garnish and perhaps a
side dish, and later a
dessert such as a
pumpkin pie. Courses may vary in size as well as number depending on the culture where the meal takes place.