14:31 Oct 7, 2011 

And I doubt even the French know all of their culinary terms

14:18 Oct 7, 2011 

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!

14:08 Oct 7, 2011 

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

13:58 Oct 7, 2011 

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

13:54 Oct 7, 2011 

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 :))

13:43 Oct 7, 2011 

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

11:16 Oct 7, 2011 

sausage-shaped creation popular in France :)

11:15 Oct 7, 2011 

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

11:13 Oct 7, 2011 

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

11:10 Oct 7, 2011 

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