Vendredi Vocab: Pâté
Vendredi means “Friday” in French. Each week we add something new to our culinary vocabulary by delving into a word from our menu.
This week, we will delve into: Pâté
So, to begin, what exactly is pâté? It is something often thought to be fancy, but really, pâté can be suitable for any occasion. First off, it is pronounced pah-TAY, and translates from French to mean “paste.” This is essentially what pâté is. Pâté is a paste, loaf, or pie made from a mixture of ground seafood, meat, poultry, or vegetables, and a combinations on other base ingredients. The paste can be served hot or cold, and ground to consistency preference, from smooth and creamy to chunky. Traditionally, pâté is served baked in a crust, or molded as a terrine (a mixture allowed to cool or set in it’s container and typically served in slices). It is also commonly spread on bread.
The exact origins of pâté are not exactly known. Some believe it may have started with Chef Jean Joseph Clause in 1765 in Normandy, when he first created the famous “pâté de fois gras.” The French were the ones who first got creative with pâté, exploring different flavors and textures. It has been reported that 25% of French people eat pâté at least once a week, and 68% consume pâté once a month! Across the world, it has become a favorite choice for hors d’oeuvres.
Now that we’ve done all this talking about pâté, it’s probably time we try it. Here at the girl & the fig, we have a delicious Duck Liver Pâté calling your name!
Our Duck Liver Pâté comes with apple butter and brioche toasts. The mousse is made from duck livers, butter, shallots, garlic, thyme, cream, and salt; the perfect appetizer to start off your meal with us.
Our pâté is also available on our Mano Formate Charuterie Platter!
It is always fun to try something new, and this may be the perfect time to try pâté if you have yet to! Or, if you’re a long time pâté lover, this is just a good excuse to dine on something delicious. 😉
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Vendredi means “Friday” in French. Each week we add something new to our culinary vocabulary by delving into a word from our menu. We love food, we love words, and we love to learn something new. We also love Fridays.
Happy Vendredi, everyone!
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