Simon Bruni Oct 7, 2011:

I had never heard of it either And I doubt even the French know all of their culinary terms

Lisa McCarthy (asker) Oct 7, 2011:

@ Carol Don´t know about 'crediting the audience with more knowledge...' - Dare I admit that I didn´t know what 'quenelle' meant? Who cares, we all love the sound (and flavours) of posh nosh :) And I love the idea of waking up each day and learning something new!

Simon Bruni Oct 7, 2011:

@Carol & Lisa A point well made Carol. And yes dumpling would be more appropriate for a taberna menu.

Carol Gullidge Oct 7, 2011:

quenelles aren't really that obscure any more. But more importantly perhaps, they do have a particular shape that dumplings don't conform to. See Benjamin's link, which has a lovely image of a sorbet quenelle. In any case, if it comes to either "talking up or down" with menus, I think it's usually safer these days - i.e., less condescending - to credit the target audience with more rather than less knowledge

Lisa McCarthy (asker) Oct 7, 2011:

Hi Simon Yes, I saw it translated as 'dumpling' too but, as this is an upmarket menu, I thought that 'dumpling' just didn´t cut the mustard so to speak :))

Simon Bruni Oct 7, 2011:

dumpling Perhaps dumpling would suffice if you want to be less posh (and less obscure).

Carol Gullidge Oct 7, 2011:

a sort of sausage-shaped creation popular in France :)

Lisa McCarthy (asker) Oct 7, 2011:

Hi again, Carol Please post this as an answer, as I've just found that the word is left as is in French!

Lisa McCarthy (asker) Oct 7, 2011:

Hi Carol Very interesting! There are lots of refs with 'con quenelle de'. But you know what my next question is... :)

Carol Gullidge Oct 7, 2011:

just a thought: could it possibly be a typo for 'quenelle'? Might be worth checking