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2 days ago, I decided to pick up a microwavable meal for dinner. I saw that there was Shepherd's Pie available for cheap, so I decided to grab that.
When I got home, I re-read the packaging and something caught my eye...
"Pâté Chinois"? Er... if my French is correct, that's "Chinese Pie". What a strange translation.
I asked one of my co-workers who knew a little more French than I do (read: bilingual versus my nonexistent almost-failed-Grade-12-French) and he explained it that "pâté" meant more like "crust" than "pie" and that the "Chinois" was perhaps referring to Chinese immigrants who brought the recipe from overseas. So, I did a little digging and came across a few different theories, but nothing solid.
Wikipedia's Entry states that it could be:
a) Chinese cooks prepared the dish (originating from English descent) for French-Canadian railway workers and those who were served the meal called it "Chinese Pie".
b) Thousands of Quebecers at one point immigrated to China, Maine (yes, there's a city called that) and when they returned, they brought a recipe which they called "pâté chinois".
Two other theories state:
c) The recipe came over with Chinese immigrants who did not have much money or food.
And my personal favorite theory:
d) "Chinoiserie" is a French expression (hopefully not derogatory) meaning complicated, upside-down, or nonsensical, and when you look at this pie… well, it is a bit odd, so maybe the name came from that.
Does anyone else know of any other theories for "Pâté Chinois"?
Following the discussion, it then came to wonder why we call it "Shepherd's Pie". The only theory that I can find right now is that it was typically made from Sunday Roast leftovers, thus, the "Shepherd".
Oh, and the Shepherd's Pie dinner? Deceptively small, but quite filling considering its size. I'd grab it again. :)
When I got home, I re-read the packaging and something caught my eye...
"Pâté Chinois"? Er... if my French is correct, that's "Chinese Pie". What a strange translation.
I asked one of my co-workers who knew a little more French than I do (read: bilingual versus my nonexistent almost-failed-Grade-12-French) and he explained it that "pâté" meant more like "crust" than "pie" and that the "Chinois" was perhaps referring to Chinese immigrants who brought the recipe from overseas. So, I did a little digging and came across a few different theories, but nothing solid.
Wikipedia's Entry states that it could be:
a) Chinese cooks prepared the dish (originating from English descent) for French-Canadian railway workers and those who were served the meal called it "Chinese Pie".
b) Thousands of Quebecers at one point immigrated to China, Maine (yes, there's a city called that) and when they returned, they brought a recipe which they called "pâté chinois".
Two other theories state:
c) The recipe came over with Chinese immigrants who did not have much money or food.
And my personal favorite theory:
d) "Chinoiserie" is a French expression (hopefully not derogatory) meaning complicated, upside-down, or nonsensical, and when you look at this pie… well, it is a bit odd, so maybe the name came from that.
Does anyone else know of any other theories for "Pâté Chinois"?
Following the discussion, it then came to wonder why we call it "Shepherd's Pie". The only theory that I can find right now is that it was typically made from Sunday Roast leftovers, thus, the "Shepherd".
Oh, and the Shepherd's Pie dinner? Deceptively small, but quite filling considering its size. I'd grab it again. :)