Black-Bass, Black-bass à Grande Bouche – Largemouth Bass or Largemouth Black Bass. Largemouth Black Bass on French Menus.

from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman

behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

 

     
Largemouth black bass.

Largemouth black bass is a North American freshwater fish introduced into European rivers for sports fishermen and women in the late 19th century.  These American imports have established themselves in many streams and rivers in Europe. A French chef who is an active amateur fisherman, on the river where his restaurant is, told me eating largemouth black bass may be considered revenge as they eat young crayfish. Young crayfish, when left alone grow into bigger crayfish, and they have many of their own admirers in the French culinary world. Nevertheless, he considers black bass as a tasty fish, and when offered fish caught by local fishermen and women, he will place them on his menu; any fish, not just bass, that he catches himself are for his friends and family.
   
Catching black bass.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/92414546@N04/14261780228/
   
Largemouth Black Bass on French menus:
  
Black-Bass à Grande Bouche Poêlé à l'Anis – Largemouth bass fried with aniseed. (See the appendix Herbs and Spices, Mushrooms and Truffles: Anis).
  
 Lightly fried black bass in a fennel-accented sauce.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_spivack/3240438372/
  
Black-Bass à Grande Bouche Vapeur, Poireaux, Champignons de Paris et une Crème Légère au Citron - Steamed largemouth bass prepared with leeks and button mushrooms and served with a light and creamy lemon accented sauce.
  
Black-Bass à Grande Bouche Fumée et sa Marinade Citron –Largemouth bass smoked and served in a lemon marinade.
  
Carpaccio de Black Bass – A Carpaccio of largemouth bass.
  
Black-Bass à la Fondue d'Échalotes – Black bass served on a bed of shallots.
  
A river in Maine.
Maine has over 1,000 lakes and an untold number of rivers and streams.
   
French and visiting freshwater sportsmen and women along with commercial fishermen and women catch these fish using a rod and line; they may reach 2 kilos or more.  The professionals mostly sell their catches directly to restaurants and in farmer’s markets near to where the fish are caught. Unfortunately, the catches are rarely large enough or valuable enough to reach the big cities. Nevertheless,  if you are traveling in France, they will be on many riverside and lakeside menus. The larger fish will usually be served as grilled filets or fried filets, and they are a tasty fish.
  
My family and I caught the North American family members of these fish. We were on vacation in the lakes and rivers in Northern Maine, and it was, unfortunately, not the salmon season. One of our sons caught a young salmon but it was below the legal catch size, and it was returned to the lake. We stayed at a fishing lodge and took a fishing guide, who promised us good fishing and good eating with large mouthed bass. 
   
Largemouth black bass.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/biodivlibrary/6102597325/
   
Largemouth black bass is a tasty fish.  The fish we caught were at most 400 grams (14 ounces, just under 1 lb) each. The guide knew all the best places for largemouth black bass, and we just reeled them in. When we had caught enough for lunch, we sat on the bank of the lake, fried them in olive oil and a few herbs. Together with the additions provided by the fishing lodge where we stayed along with a cold bottle of white wine. the fish made a magnificent lunch.  The next day we repeated our success on the St John River; the St John River is part of the USA State of Maine's border with Canada.  Some of the fish we caught that day may have been Canadian, but they tasted the same as the American fish! Maine has over 1,000 lakes and an untold number of rivers and streams. In two days we only saw two other people.
   
Largemouth Black Bass in the languages of France's neighbors:
   
(Catalan - perca americana), (Dutch -forelbaars, zwarte baars), (German - Amerikanischer schwarzbarsch, forellenbarsch), (Italian -persico trota), (Spanish - perca Americana,),
   
Connected posts:
     
 
  
 
  
  

Behind the French Menu’s links include hundreds of words, names, and phrases that are seen on French menus. There are nearly 400 articles that include over 2,000 French dishes with English translations and explanations. To search for more articles like this one simply add the word, words or phrase you are searching for to the words "Behind the French Menu" and search with Google or Bing.


Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman

behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

Copyright 2010, 2017.
   

Palourdes – Clams. Clams on French Menus.

from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com
   

   
Clams on sale in a French market.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gigile/6557137767/

Palourde, Clam, Praires, Venus, Vernis, and Clovis – These are French names for clams with palourde the word most often seen on menus.  With few exceptions, the clams on mainland French menus are only seen on the European side of the Atlantic and in the Mediterranean
  
                    Clams, button mushrooms, and wild garlic.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/terminus2/33767584813/
  
Clams are, of course, the single most important ingredient in clam chowder, with the word chowder coming from the French word chaudréebut do not be surprised when Le Clam Chowder de Boston, Boston clam chowder, is on the menu. The French enjoy good recipes from around the world, and New England clam chowder with potatoes and bacon along with the clams is clearly not a French recipe.
  
Boston clam chowder
https://www.flickr.com/photos/accidentalhedonist/5424863227/

Raw clams will be on France’s Plateaus de Fruits de Mer, these are amazing overflowing platters of fresh, raw and lightly cooked shellfish and other seafood. Depending on the size of the platter ordered they may include oysters, pink shrimps, sand shrimps, Dublin Bay prawns, sea urchins, whelks, winkles, mussels along with two or more clams and more.  For special occasions, a table of diners may choose a three-tiered platter that includes a crab and or a lobster.
   
Three-tiered seafood platter.
    
Most clams are slightly sweet but have different tastes and textures both cooked and raw. Cooked clams will also be in fish soups or served grilled, stuffed or be part of other recipes from pasta to meat dishes.  The list that follows includes the most popular clams and those with highlighted names have their own posts; to see how they may be served, click on the links.  Other seafood stars that may be on the menu with clams and have their own posts include scallops; rock lobsters the owner of the lobster tail; the European two-clawed lobster which is a close cousin of the North American lobster; slipper lobsters and more. 

Clams on French menus:

 
Coques -  Cockles; cockles are close cousins of the clam family. 

Palourde Américaine, Le Clam  – The  Cherrystone Clam in the USA, also called the American Quahog. The original American Indian name of this clam was quahog, and these clams were introduced accidentally into European waters 80 years ago from the USA. On their own the Cherrystone clams are not too popular in France; nevertheless, in France, the Cherrystone clam will be providing the texture in soups such as clam chowder or as part of other dishes.
   
   A mussel, cockle and clam risotto.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/marsupilami92/33584640984/
  
Palourde Blanche  – The White Clam or Oval Shore Clam. This small white clam looks somewhat similar to the more expensive palourde grise, the grooved carpet shell clam, but its shell is not striated. It seldom exceeds 3 cm (1.2”) in diameter and, on French menus, may be part of a seafood platter or served cooked.
  
Palourde Bleue or Palourde Bleue de Méditerranée  - The pullet carpet shell clam. This small clam is from 3 – 6 cms  (1.2” – 2.4”) wide; it is farmed and usually served raw on seafood platters.
 
Palourde de Vraie, Palourde Grise, Clovisse  – The grooved carpet shell clam.; this clam is found throughout the world and is usually served raw; but in France, it also stars when stuffed and cooked.

This clam may vary in size from 2.5 - 5.5cm (1” -2.15”), though they may occasionally be larger, and it is a clam that is found throughout the world.
   
Clams sautéed with spicy chilis.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bfishadow/6010430955/
   
Telline, Flion or  Olive de Mer – The Sea Olive or Banded Wedge Shell Clam. These are tiny, mostly oval, though some are triangular, green-tinged clams, and about 2 – 4 cms across (0.80” – 1.60”). The sea olive will usually be served raw as part of a seafood platter though they may also be cooked and served with a seafood salad or with pasta.

The sea olive on French menus:

Fricassée de Tellines – A sea olive stew.

Noix de Saint-Jacques Rôties dans un Nuage de Tellines et Copeaux d’Asperges Vertes – The roasted meat of the king scallop served in a cloud of sea olives with shavings of green asparagus.

Vernis - The smooth clam.

Palourde Rose or Palourde Glénan - The pink clam. In dishes where this clam is included, the taste comes from other clams, but it will be there for its texture and will also be on menus when stuffed.

The pink clam on French menus:

Assiette de Palourdes Roses Farcies - A plate of stuffed pink clams.

Petite Praire – The striped Venus clam; usually served raw with just a dash of lemon juice.   

Couteau -  The razor shell clam or spoot. This clam is a favorite on French seafood platters and will also be on many menus when cooked.

The razor shell clam on French menus:

Assiette Panaché (Moules Farcies, Palourdes Farcies, Couteaux Farcis) – An assortment (stuffed mussels, clams, and razor shell clams).

Couteaux Palourdes Grillées – Grilled razor shell clams.
   
Stir fried razor shell clams
https://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/4590883999/
 
Connected Posts:
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

Behind the French Menu’s links include hundreds of words, names, and phrases found on French menus. Nearly 500 articles include over 4,000 French dishes with English translations and explanations. To find more articles like this one, simply add the word or words you are searching for to the words "Behind the French Menu" and search with Google or Bing.

Bryan G. Newman
Behind the French Menu
Copyright 2010, 2017, 2024.
For information on the soon to be published book behind this blog, contact Bryan Newman
at
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com

Safran – Saffron. Saffron, the Most Expensive Spice in the World. Saffron on French Menus.

from
Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com


Saffron threads 
The threads are the dried stigma where the flavor lies.
Photograph courtesy of Ane Lagerqvist
https://www.flickr.com/photos/anelagerqvist/3053671279/


Saffron’s color, aroma, and the taste that it imparts to certain dishes are unique; even the few who do not appreciate saffron’s taste will appreciate the exquisite golden hue with which saffron infuses the dishes with which it is prepared.
   
The saffron crocus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/14646075@N03/5520426889/
   
What makes saffron so expensive?
 
Saffron comes from the flower called the saffron crocus, with some 150,000 flowers needed for one kilogram of dried saffron.  Inside every flower, there are just three threads that come from the stigmas, which are the saffron spice. These threads can only be harvested by hand, and that single kilo comes from about half an acre of flowers. The threads range from orange to dark red and are taken from the heart of the flower, any yellow threads included are tasteless and worthless.  France has always grown saffron, but every year more and more is imported; when French saffron is being used, you may be sure that it will be indicated on the menu.  Spain was once France’s largest foreign supplier, but it is also now producing less; countries like Iran and Thailand produce more. Europe cannot compete with the cost of hand labor, and saffron remains the most expensive spice in the world.

Saffron on French Menus:

Filet de Maigre, Label Rouge, Émulsion au Safran des Ardennes - A filet of meagre, the fish, also called croaker or salmon bass,  prepared with a thick sauce using saffron from the French Ardennes. The French department of the Ardennes is now part of the region of the Grand Est, previously the Champagne-Ardenne region. Just over the northern border is the region of the Belgian Ardennes, which is the site of the bloody Battle of the Bulge, which was the last German offensive in Europe in WWII. These are mostly farmed fish raised in huge open nets, with plenty of space, in the clear waters off the coast of Corsica.  To achieve  France's Label Rouge, its red label for quality, these fish are rated for their taste and raised in the absence of antibiotics and all other unwanted additives.
   
La Véritable Bouillabaisse – The authentic bouillabaisse.   Do not order a hors d’oeuvre or an entrée if you are in a restaurant that serves traditional bouillabaisse. Bouillabaisse is an enormous stew that includes at least four different fish prepared in a soup flavored with saffron. In a restaurant that wants to impress, it will be served in two different stages. Bouillabaisse is the most famous of all France’s saffron-flavored dishes. 
  
A bouillabaisse
Photograph courtesy of nyaa_birdies_perch.
  
 Noix de Saint-Jacques Poêlées, Beurre d'Agrumes et Safran – The meat of the king scallop lightly fried with a citrus butter and saffron sauce.

Moules au Safran et Frites  Mussels prepared in a broth flavored with saffron and served with French fries, in the UK chips.
   
Saffron flavored crème caramel.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/istelleinad/3994098438/

Pavé de Turbot au Safran: A thick cut of turbot, the fish, cooked with a saffron-based sauce.

Risotto d'Orge Perlé au Poireau et au Safran – A risotto made with pearled barley flavored with leeks and saffron. (Pearled barley is barley that has had its hull and bran removed).

Crème Brûlée au Safran - Crème Brûlée flavored with saffron.
   
When you buy saffron for your home, there should only be dark orange to deep reddish threads, no yellow mixed with the red. Neither should saffron be powdered or inexpensive; if you see discounted saffron, it probably is not pure saffron!  The best saffron will cost over 8 Euros per gram in a retail store, and anything under 5 Euros per gram should be viewed with suspicion.
   
The history of Saffron
  
Despite most assumptions saffron did not originate in the Middle or Far East; botanists have determined that saffron developed on the Greek island of Crete.
  
For the history of saffron see the websites of Gernot Katzer, Gernot Katzer’s Spice-Pages,  and  Eric Schoenzetter’s, Toil'd'Épices.  I use these two very knowledgeable individuals to check on all the information and misinformation on the history of herbs and spices that I collect along the way.



(Sadly, Eric Schoenzetter has passed and his website is no longer active).
     

Crocus Sativus
https://www.flickr.com/photos/32289838@N04/24756952439/

Saffron in the languages of France’s neighbors:

(Catalan - safrà), (Dutch -  saffraan), (German – safran), (Italian – zafferano), (Spanish – azafrán).
   
Connected Posts:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Behind the French Menu’s links include hundreds of words, names, and phrases found on French menus. Nearly 500 posts include over 4,000 French dishes with English translations and explanations. To find more articles like this one, simply add the word or words you are searching for to the words "Behind the French Menu" and search with Google or Bing.
 

Behind the French Menu
by
Bryan G. Newman
behindthefrenchmenu@gmail.com
Copyright 2010, 2017, 2024.



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