auberge espagnole - melting pot of contemporary European cuisine ( translation glossary) description of a restaurant,Marketing / Market Research,Marketing

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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	auberge espagnole
English translation:	melting pot of contemporary European cuisine
Entered by:	xxxpumpkin pie

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3:05pm Feb 19, 2007

French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research / description of a restaurant

French term or phrase: auberge espagnole

Very famous restaurant in Paris run by an equally famous Head Chef.

L'ambition pour le déjeuner à XXX est ainsi de proposer un mix d'en-cas et de plats plus gastronomiques: "c'est l'auberge espagnole du XXIe siècle" aime à déclarer le jeune chef!

TIA

xxxpumpkin pie

KudoZ activity
Questions: 17 (1 open)
Answers: 0

France

Clarification request(s) and response

juliebarba: 3:55pm Feb 19, 2007: I'd check out the scope of the food with the chef - whether it's Euro or from lots of different countries....
rousselures: 5:12am Feb 20, 2007: In an "auberge espagnole" (which is a very common expression, not only a movie), you only get what you bring to the table. Very strange thing to want to be compared to, for a chef... He might not really know what it means...

melting pot

Explanation:
He may be referring to the Franco-British film of the same name in which a group of international Erasmus students share a flat in Barcelona. In which case he means mixing different tastes, from different cultures.

Selected response from:

Emma Paulay
France

Note from asker to answerer

Thanks.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +5

melting pot

Emma Paulay

5 +2

a potluck

Priscilla Whitaker

4 +1

smorgasbord

Priscilla Whitaker

4 +1

fusion melting pot /pot luck

katy hannan

4 +1

a European multicultural crossroads (for the 21st century)

Steven Capsuto

a (modern) blend of cultures and gastronomic delights / cultures and cooking styles

Pina Trans

Euro-friendly fusion food / Erasmus programme

Andy THEODOROU

4 -1

Spanish inn

Carlos Segura

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

Spanish inn

Explanation:
Regards.

Carlos Segura
United Kingdom
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Spanish,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

12 mins confidence:

Euro-friendly fusion food / Erasmus programme

Explanation:
Presumably this is a reference to the film, which has "semi-cult" status in France but is virtually unknown in the UK. I can't think of a suitable cultural reference.

Furthermore, it's not clear what the chef is saying - fusion food or snacks from different countries??

Andy THEODOROU
France
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 7

16 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

melting pot

Explanation:
He may be referring to the Franco-British film of the same name in which a group of international Erasmus students share a flat in Barcelona. In which case he means mixing different tastes, from different cultures.

Emma Paulay
France
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 36

Note from asker to answerer

Thanks.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Bourth: Has to be a reference to the film since an "auberge espagnole" is originally a primitive one, with nothing but what you bring.

3 mins

-> Thanks Bourth

agree

Emma_C

12 mins

-> Hi Emma, thanks!

agree

Alanna Wilson-Duff: I like this too, but feel that something should be added: maybe "melting pot of contemporary European cuisine" to capture the hip and funky aspect of the auberge espagnole

20 mins

-> Yes indeed, thank you Alanna.

agree

Assimina Vavoula

54 mins

-> Thanks Assimina

neutral

ormiston: they all sat round the table but was there much focus on food ? my only hesitation with 'melting pot' is that it sound as if it's all chucked into the same cauldron rather than what I presume it is - exotic tapas !

1 hr

-> Hi ormiston, no there was no particular focus on food in the film. However, the term is currently used to describe a mixture of cultures. However, you're right - I think Alanna's addition above is necessary to make it sound appealing.

agree

Pina Trans: I like Alanna's suggestion

3 hrs

-> Thanks Pina

21 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

a European multicultural crossroads (for the 21st century)

Explanation:
I agree... It has to be a reference to that wonderful movie.

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Note added at 22 mins (2007-02-19 15:27:46 GMT)
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Wording it this way would preserve the original ambiguity as to whether the chef is referring to the cuisine, the clientele, or both.

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Note added at 23 mins (2007-02-19 15:28:43 GMT)
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Or perhaps a Pan-European crossroads?

Steven Capsuto
United States
Native speaker of:

English

18 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

a potluck

Explanation:
"c'est l'auberge espagnole"
repas: everyone's bringing some food along | it's potluck (US)
situation chaotique: it's a madhouse *
Straight from Collins-Robert CD Rom, so I am quite sure

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-02-19 16:10:59 GMT)
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Although I don't necessarily consider Wikipedia the ultimate source, it does seem to support the friendly idea, as well as its 16th century origins. When my French clients request "international" English, American English is used as the default, not British English - though that is a matter for personal consideration. Here's the Wikipedia entry:

A potluck, also called potluck dinner, or covered dish supper, is a gathering of people where each participant is expected to bring a dish of food to be shared among the group. These gatherings are often organized by churches, mosques, covens and other community groups since they simplify the meal planning and distribute the costs among the participants. Smaller, more informal get-togethers may also occur in the form of potlucks.

In Indiana, the term "potluck" is virtually unkown. The appropriate term used is a "pitch-in".

The only traditional rule for dishes is that they be large enough to be shared among a good portion (but not necessarily all) of the anticipated guests. In the United States, jello salads and casseroles are popular, often as Italian-style dishes.

Such events can also go by the name "Jacob's join", in which each participant brings along as much food as he or she is likely to want to eat, but puts it into a common stock for the communal meal.

Another variation on potlucks is "rota" meals, short for rotation. With rota, rather than each person bringing a dish, participants take turns providing food for the entire group. For regular potlucks (e.g. daily, weekly or monthly) amongst a fairly consistent set of participants, this dramatically reduces the amount of preparation effort required. One popular and long-standing implementation of this approach can be found at Sirius, an intentional community in rural Massachusetts.

The word potluck is sometimes erroneously thought to originate from the Native American custom of potlatch but, in fact, is of English origin.

The word potluck dates from the sixteenth century, and the earliest written citation is 1592 - in England. ("That that pure sanguine complexion of yours may never be famisht with pot lucke", Thomas Nashe, see the Oxford English Dictionary for full reference). It is a portmanteau word formed from pot and luck.

A secondary use of the term is to refer to whatever food happens to be available, especially when offered to a guest. Another use also mentioned in dictionaries is "that which is tendered or available in certain circumstances or at a certain time".
****
Must get back to work, friends! Good luck with potluck!

Priscilla Whitaker
France
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

neutral

Alanna Wilson-Duff: quite negative connotations though, I don't know that I'd want to eat anywhere that asked me to take potluck on their food!! ... I shall correct myself then Priscilla, this meaning of potluck not having reached British English!

16 mins

-> it's not a question of taking potluck - in American culture it simply means an eating event where everyone brings something - it's is a positive, friendly, neighborhood kind of experience, not related to the "take your chances" term.

agree

Natasha Dupuy

16 mins

neutral

juliebarba: I agree with Alanna. I read your response to her and understand why you put it, but in UK English it means 'taking your chances' so it's not an expression that could be used internationally for marketing .......

25 mins

agree

katy hannan: But the actual meaning IS bringing along something and each one making their contribution...and that doesn't seem appropriate in a menu :-) However- since the chef is french... and the expression is a VERY common french expression, well before the film..

1 hr

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

smorgasbord

Explanation:
How about a 21st-century smorgasbord? We've gone from Spanish inn to British English to American potluck, but maybe the Germans got it right!

Priscilla

Priscilla Whitaker
France
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

fusion melting pot /pot luck

Explanation:
I agree with these terms proposed: (couldnt fit my comment in below) would definitely go along these lines- also because the chef is french and explained that he was making a mix of gastronomic dishes- The term "Auberge spagnol" is VERY COMMON in French- well before the movie was made- so unless there is some direct reference or theme in the article I would not take it as read that it refers to the film. It simply means you get what is put on the table. (actually- it traditionally means that each one brings something along and makes a contribution) but it doesnt seem to go well with a restaurant menu- unless it refers to different dishes prepared by different chefs and served all together- In that case that is the true meaning.

katy hannan
Italy
Native speaker of:

English

3 hrs confidence:

a (modern) blend of cultures and gastronomic delights / cultures and cooking styles

Explanation:
I don't think you can translate this literally. You may wish to add "modern" to refer to the part about the 21st century.

"L'auberge espagnole" literally translates as the Spanish inn, but it's also a French expression for a place where cultures are mixed together like a stew.
http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/reviews/cl-et-espagnole16...

TimesDispatch.com | No storm can wash away the flavor of New Orleans
Richmond, Va.- Monday, Jan. 29, 2007. Keyword Site. News. ... The gumbolike blend of cultures and cooking styles is also infused with local flavor since ...
www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArt....

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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-02-19 18:17:11 GMT)
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Another word for "blend" = "fusion"

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Note added at 3 hrs (2007-02-19 18:24:51 GMT)
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The mix, blend, fusion... refers to the types of dishes, from snack types to more sophisticated dishes. I wasn't referring to mixing together the different ingredients of the various dishes.

Pina Trans
Native speaker of:

English

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French: auberge espagnole

English translation: melting pot of contemporary European cuisine