À la carte mnemonic

The "À la carte" mnemonic helps remember how the phrase works in a restaurant setting. Imagine "À la carte" as "at the menu"—it means you select individual dishes separately, each with its own price, rather than choosing a fixed meal. Think of "À" as "at" or "by," and "la carte" as "the menu." This way, the mnemonic emphasizes selecting items directly from the menu, giving you flexibility and control over each dish you order, rather than pre-set combination meals.