ardoise

English translation: menu displayed on blackboard

17:09 Dec 11, 2019
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Food & Drink / Restaurants
French term or phrase: ardoise
Hello

I simply need to know if in sentences like:

XXX offre une ***ardoise*** aux plats inspirés,

whether the etymology of "ardoise" in catering (restaurants) goes back to the slate blackboards outside restaurants or the "slate plates" that food was sometimes served on.
i can find references to both (slate = blackboard and plate) but none that says specifically which one when it comes to restaurants.

Thanks
SafeTex
France
Local time: 13:53
English translation:menu displayed on blackboard
Explanation:
Yes, it's certainly that!

Places that use an erasable blackboard system tend therefore to have a more flexible menu that may change from day to day, rather than those 'posher' restaurants with exquisitely-printed menus that tells you they don't change them very often...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2019-12-11 23:42:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think here it is being used as metonymy — the 'blackboard' to represent 'la carte' (remember the inversion of 'carte' and 'menu' between FR and EN!) — or mor generally, the 'food'; just as we use 'table' as metonymy for 'restaurant'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2019-12-12 02:00:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A sorely-missed well-wisher very kindly offers the following comments:

"Found these on the web, in case ... Asker is looking
for a translation as much as an explanation:

From traditional hot and cold bar food to A CHALKBOARD OF DELICIOUS CHEF'S SPECIALS and dishes of the week

With a CHALKBOARD OF DELICIOUS LUNCH OPTIONS as well as freshly baked treats, it's hard to leave Jason unhappy

smack in the middle of the bar and restaurant area -- trendy decor but more important, a CHALKBOARD OF FABULOUS WINES by the glass at very reasonable prices

Then we all ordered delectable desserts from a CHALKBOARD OF TEMPTING OFFERINGS.

Despite a CHALKBOARD OF TEMPTING SUNDAY MORNING BRUNCH SPECIALS, I opted to go with the regular menu's Mexican Omelette with a toasted raisin bagel w/ cream

The references to "regular menu" (opposite) and "chef's specials" and "dishes of the week" certainly support your comment about variability."

Thanks, old friend, for still looking out for us!
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 13:53
Grading comment
Thanks
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +6menu displayed on blackboard
Tony M


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +6
menu displayed on blackboard


Explanation:
Yes, it's certainly that!

Places that use an erasable blackboard system tend therefore to have a more flexible menu that may change from day to day, rather than those 'posher' restaurants with exquisitely-printed menus that tells you they don't change them very often...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2019-12-11 23:42:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think here it is being used as metonymy — the 'blackboard' to represent 'la carte' (remember the inversion of 'carte' and 'menu' between FR and EN!) — or mor generally, the 'food'; just as we use 'table' as metonymy for 'restaurant'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2019-12-12 02:00:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A sorely-missed well-wisher very kindly offers the following comments:

"Found these on the web, in case ... Asker is looking
for a translation as much as an explanation:

From traditional hot and cold bar food to A CHALKBOARD OF DELICIOUS CHEF'S SPECIALS and dishes of the week

With a CHALKBOARD OF DELICIOUS LUNCH OPTIONS as well as freshly baked treats, it's hard to leave Jason unhappy

smack in the middle of the bar and restaurant area -- trendy decor but more important, a CHALKBOARD OF FABULOUS WINES by the glass at very reasonable prices

Then we all ordered delectable desserts from a CHALKBOARD OF TEMPTING OFFERINGS.

Despite a CHALKBOARD OF TEMPTING SUNDAY MORNING BRUNCH SPECIALS, I opted to go with the regular menu's Mexican Omelette with a toasted raisin bagel w/ cream

The references to "regular menu" (opposite) and "chef's specials" and "dishes of the week" certainly support your comment about variability."

Thanks, old friend, for still looking out for us!


Tony M
France
Local time: 13:53
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 179
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Eliza Hall: I agree this is literally what it's referring to, but it's being used in the figurative sense (=menu), not the literal (=blackboard with the day's menu written on it). So I would just translate it as menu.
29 mins
  -> Of course! But Asker was seeking confirmation of the underlying meaning, which is what I have given — as well as adding a bit of cultural background to explain why it is really more subtle than just 'menu'

agree  Wolf Draeger
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Wolf!

agree  Stephanie Benoist
3 hrs
  -> Merci, Stephanie !

agree  Carol Gullidge: My experience is that the blackboard displays the day’s specials, but we’d need far more context to know whether this is what is being referred to. Euphemistically.
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Carol!

agree  Ph_B (X)
13 hrs
  -> Merci, Ph_B !

agree  David Hayes
15 hrs
  -> Thanks, David!

agree  B D Finch: Round here, the "ardoise" displays the fixed price menu of the day. Other options might be available à la carte.// I don't think we have any top-notch restos here :(
1 day 19 hrs
  -> Thanks, B! Yes, here too... but there's also a kind of 'inverted snobbery' in which top-notch restaurants use this technique to supposedly show their menus are very 'current', produce too fresh to warrant a printed menu...
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