platos combinados

English translation: Mixed platters

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	platos combinados
English translation:	Mixed platters
Entered by:	franglish

15:02 Apr 7, 2007

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Cooking / Culinary

Spanish term or phrase: platos combinados

Everyone who has been to Spain has seen platos combinados advertised by various bars and cafeterias, even the cheaper restaurants. But has anyone got a good English term for this this? My suggestions so far are A meal on a plate or a single-plate meal.

accbuss KudoZ activity Questions: 5 (none open) Answers: 3 Spain
Local time: 00:44

Mixed platters

Explanation:
Though 'assorted platter' sounds good, it refers to one kind of food, i.e. seafood, vegetables, pastries etc.
The 'Plato combinado' served in Spain includes some meat, possibly fried eggs, french fries and some slices of tomato.

Selected response from:

franglish
Switzerland
Local time: 00:44

Grading comment

I like this the best. While "One course meal" is the best "translation", I think "Mixed Platters" is the closest in cultural terms to the original. The "Specials" term is also attractive.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

assorted platter

Cecilia Della Croce

4 +2

variety dish / meal - combined meal / dish

Xenia Wong

5 +1

Mixed platters

franglish

4 +2

combination plates

roneill

4 +2

Lunch Special or Dinner Special

John Myles White (X)

4 +2

mixed plates

Nedra Rivera Huntington

3 +1

One course meal

Andy Watkinson

plated meal

Wil Hardman (X)

main meal

Wil Hardman (X)

one-dish meals

Simon Bruni

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

variety dish / meal - combined meal / dish

Explanation:
Una opción.

Xenia Wong
Local time: 17:44
Native speaker of:

Spanish,

English
PRO pts in category: 16

32 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

assorted platter

Explanation:
hth

Cecilia Della Croce
Argentina
Local time: 19:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Spanish

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Mixed platters

franglish
Switzerland
Local time: 00:44
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 40

Grading comment

I like this the best. While "One course meal" is the best "translation", I think "Mixed Platters" is the closest in cultural terms to the original. The "Specials" term is also attractive.

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

combination plates

Explanation:
That's what I see on menus here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2007-04-07 17:26:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.laposta-de-mesilla.com/html/combination_plates.ht...

roneill
United States
Local time: 15:44
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Notes to answerer

Asker: This is presumably the appropriate US translation. Not common in the UK, however.

23 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Lunch Special or Dinner Special

Explanation:
I would just say "lunch special" or "dinner special" as that's what we call a fixed meal (in cheap restaurants at least) with several included pieces that has a lower price than ordering the pieces separately. The references below are just two of many you'll find searching for "lunch specials".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2007-04-07 19:00:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

You're right that it's not an ideal translation: the exact word that "lunch special" or "dinner special" really translates for is "menú" as in the first definition for "menú" that the DRAE gives. (www.rae.es)

But part of the problem is that in America cheap restaurants call something a "special" when it is precisely _not_ what a nice restaurant would call a "special" -- i.e. something special that isn't normally on the menu. Chinese restaurants offer "lunch specials" that are really just combinations of a routine appetizer, entrée and dessert for a fixed price.

Or am I wrong about thinking that "platos combinados" is basically equivalent to "menú"?

Reference: http://www.chiangmaiportsmouth.com/lunchspecials.html
Reference: http://www.olivemountainrestaurant.com/02-lunch-evanston.htm...

John Myles White (X)
Local time: 18:44
Native speaker of:

English

Notes to answerer

Asker: Not a bad phrase, except that platos combinados are generally routine fare and there are many of them, whereas a lunch special is usually just one. OK, sometimes you can see lunch specials.

7 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

mixed plates

Explanation:
UKTV Food > Recipes > Lamb Mixed Plate
http://uktv.co.uk/index.cfm/uktv/Food.recipe/aID/574992/

Combinado Vegetariano (Mixed plate with cheese and rice croquettes
http://toptable.co.uk/timesonline/details.cfm?rid=2103&p=3

Combinado de peixe (Mixed plate with prawns, cassava chips, cheesebread, salt cod
http://www.totaltravel.co.uk/travel/greater-london/london-ce...

Nedra Rivera Huntington
United States
Local time: 15:44
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 42

23 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

One course meal

Explanation:
Hi,

Possibly one of the worst things to have to translate, I agree.

I believe your own suggestions are more accurate than those above.

What the Spanish term stresses is the fact that it's not the typical two/three course meal starting with soup perhaps, then "guisantes con jamón" etc.. followed by a lonely steak on a plate, but everything on one plate.
We obviously don't have a special term for it in English because in the UK it isn't special. It's the norm.

I'd use your own suggestions or perhaps "One course meal".

Andy

Andy Watkinson
Spain
Local time: 00:44
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

299 days confidence:

plated meal

Explanation:
What a difficult term- I just don't think mixed/assorted platter is correct. One course meal or 'meal on a plate' are more accurate but sound strange in English. Plated meal- I think is accurate and a term that is commonly used, in both senses of the word ;)

Wil Hardman (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:44
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36

299 days confidence:

main meal

Explanation:
another option..

Wil Hardman (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:44
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36

1362 days confidence:

one-dish meals

Explanation:
For posterity.

Or perhaps 'single-dish meals'

Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:44
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 48

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

platos combinados

English translation: Mixed platters

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

platos combinados

English translation: Mixed platters

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language