ghiotta da sembrare leggera

English translation: ...is so exquisite that it seems like a light dish.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:ghiotta da sembrare leggera
English translation:...is so exquisite that it seems like a light dish.
Entered by: Cristina Gonzalez

13:23 Nov 30, 2012
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Cooking / Culinary
Italian term or phrase: ghiotta da sembrare leggera
This is on a list of Italian foods, referring in this case to Fondue:
Questa fonduta tradizionale fatta con una buona fontina, è così ghiotta da sembrare leggera. I can't quite grasp the meaning of the second part of the sentence.
Thank you.
Jeannette Connors
Local time: 21:56
...is so exquisite that it seems like a light dish.
Explanation:
Obviously, if it's made from cheese, it can't be light, but the "buona fontina" makes it seem like it is so.
Selected response from:

Cristina Gonzalez
United States
Local time: 21:56
Grading comment
Thank you, Cristina.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Is so delicious you forget how heavy it is / how many calories it has
Lara Barnett
4...is so exquisite that it seems like a light dish.
Cristina Gonzalez
4so tempting that it doesn't seem too filling
Michael Korovkin
3 +1so scrumptious it's uplifting
Sarah Jane Webb


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
...is so exquisite that it seems like a light dish.


Explanation:
Obviously, if it's made from cheese, it can't be light, but the "buona fontina" makes it seem like it is so.


    Reference: http://www.wordreference.com/definizione/ghiotta
Cristina Gonzalez
United States
Local time: 21:56
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you, Cristina.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Cristina!

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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
so tempting that it doesn't seem too filling


Explanation:
or so delicious that it doesn't make one feel full (a funny alliteration though!:))

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 02:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 22
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Michael for the help!

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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Is so delicious you forget how heavy it is / how many calories it has


Explanation:
I think "leggera" is either referring to the low-fat or to the heavy/stodgy quality of fondue. Not sure so either term could be used.

I would say that "you forget about the calories" is quite idiomatic here in UK.

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Note added at 1 hr (2012-11-30 15:16:13 GMT)
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"They seem light" or terms like this do not sound very English IMO. Therefore have gone for the whole idea, rather than a literal translation.

Example sentence(s):
  • "These recipes are lower in calories and fat -- but they're so delicious you'll forget they're good for you, too."
  • "Uncle Wally’s No Sugar Added Blueberry Muffins are so moist, sweet, and delicious, that you will forget you’re eating muffins with no sugar added!"

    Reference: http://www.bhg.com/recipes/healthy/dinner/
    Reference: http://www.unclewallysonline.com/
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Lara. I am getting hungry now :)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Susy Sinigag (X)
4 hrs

agree  Raffaella Berry: I think this is exactly what the original text wants to convey
4 hrs

neutral  Michael Korovkin: Lara, I don-t think the client would be happy with your emphasis of the piggishness of the dish! Così si sputtani il piatto dal punto di vista calorico!T'ain't in the text either!+eh,but just the word"calories"makes it anathema...unless preceded by a"no"!
4 hrs
  -> Which is why I have given an alternative just in case. If the client had any ideas about English idioms, maybe he would think differently anyway - this expression does not necessarily mean the dish is "piggish".

disagree  Katia DG: Sono d'accordissimo sul senso, ma considerato che il testo sta suggerendo la fonduta e ne sta decantando i pregi, eviterei termini come "heavy" o "calories". È preferibile usare un termine "positivo" affermando che sembra un piatto leggero.
4 hrs
  -> This is NOT a negative expression - it is a postive one.
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
so scrumptious it's uplifting


Explanation:
Hope I'm not too late. Something along these lines might help you out. A really challenging text!

Sarah Jane Webb
Local time: 02:56
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Sarah Jane!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  P.L.F. Persio: il consueto lampo di genio; tu sei tutta un balenare di idee luminose;-)
1 hr
  -> ma grazie, mi confondi *__*
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