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Food

Just seen this on a sample menu for a hotel we are visiting soon

(103 Posts)
Floradora9 Wed 25-Jan-17 09:41:41

Wild mushrooms on toast, Eden Valley brie, burnt butter, hazelnuts

What on earth is burnt butter ?

rosesarered Wed 25-Jan-17 09:45:57

Some butter that the chef has taken a blowtorch to?
Am a bit tired of all this pretentious stuff on menus, don't know about anyone else.

Greyduster Wed 25-Jan-17 10:14:39

Is it "burnt butter" or "burnt butter hazelnuts" which could be a posh name for toasted hazelnuts? 'A toasted hazelnut by any other name would taste as sweet.' Or not..... I hate pretentious food too.

Linsco56 Wed 25-Jan-17 10:21:05

Funny you should say that as I was thinking along similar lines only last week.

Note to all restaurants, just describe the food in plain English, forget the flowery superlatives.

And also, to tell me that I'm eating black faced heather fed lamb is just too much information. I don't want to think about my dinner having a face!

TriciaF Wed 25-Jan-17 11:11:37

There used to be a dish called skate wings with black butter - never fancied it.
www.waitrose.com/home/recipes/recipe_directory/s/skate_with_black_butter_and_capers.html

Eloethan Wed 25-Jan-17 11:14:16

Nonsense isn't it.

Anya Wed 25-Jan-17 11:18:12

Skate wings with black butter are delicious ?

PRINTMISS Wed 25-Jan-17 11:23:30

I thought skate wings were difficult to buy these days, being one of the many endangered species.

MawBroon Wed 25-Jan-17 11:35:36

Also called Beurre Noisette it is butter heated (gently) up to v hot to the point where it starts to go brown, foam and separate. I sometimes add a drop (literally) of lemon juice. You have to keep an eye on it and use immediately. Delish.

Luckygirl Wed 25-Jan-17 11:52:21

Stuff all this poncy nonsense - can't be bothered with it and it puts me off these restaurants. We eat at the pub!

Teetime Wed 25-Jan-17 11:52:47

I get my skate directly from a wholesale fishmonger in Grimsby they deliver quite widely (in in Leicestershire) I am assured they are within quota and have only sustainable sources - its delicious.

harrigran Wed 25-Jan-17 12:44:36

Hotel sent me a sample menu and one of the desserts was some kind of fruit served with chocolate soil, what ? Sounds disgusting and more offputting than snail porridge.

Jalima Wed 25-Jan-17 12:47:17

Just toast? That's a bit ordinary - surely it should be 'lightly toasted 'pan pugliese' or 'pumpernickel' or even just ordinary 'sourdough' shock

I like to know exactly where my mushrooms have come from - preferably an indoor mushroom farm! I know a couple of people who do forage but I am a scaredy cat.

Isn't burnt butter is what happens when you put the pan on for an omelette and forget it?
Oh, no, thankyou MawBroon, you are obviously a more adventurous cook than me!

MawBroon Wed 25-Jan-17 12:59:53

What is " poncy" here?
Is Hollandaise poncy?
Is mayonnaise poncy?
Why should Beurre Noisette or "black butter " be poncy?
Would you rather stick to Ketchup or HP sauce then?
I also enjoy skate (Raie au beurre if you are not afraid of being poncy)
Available at Waitrose of course.

GillT57 Wed 25-Jan-17 13:29:04

Bring it on! the whole point of going out to eat is tasting and trying new things that I couldn't cook for myself.

hildajenniJ Wed 25-Jan-17 13:53:23

If your burnt butter hazelnuts are anything like this sauce, then I'd love to try them.

hildajenniJ Wed 25-Jan-17 13:54:39

If I may ask Floradora where is the hotel?

Elegran Wed 25-Jan-17 14:06:11

www.bonappetit.com/test-kitchen/ingredients/article/how-to-brown-butter

Jalima Wed 25-Jan-17 14:19:14

what time's dinner MawBroon?

I will bring the wine wink

suzied Wed 25-Jan-17 14:32:37

I like the sound of the mushrooms, brie and black butter and hazelnuts on toast. I don't want to go to a restaurant and have baked beans or mash, or something I can cook at home, give me (poncy) yummy food with top quality ingredients and luxurious surroundings any day .

Jalima Wed 25-Jan-17 14:36:33

Eden Valley Brie was in a cheese and wine hamper we received at Christmas - delicious

janeainsworth Wed 25-Jan-17 14:48:06

Yes I'd like to know the hotel too please Floradora
I agree with you Gill. I'm always disappointed if we go out and the only things on the menu are things I do at home.

BlueBelle Wed 25-Jan-17 14:49:25

Surely there's an inbetween, burnt black butter does not appeal to me neither would I buy baked beans on toast
I hate pretentiousness whether it's a person or a menu I like reality anyway I wouldn't ever buy anything with burnt in the title even if they mean brown not burnt it

hildajenniJ Wed 25-Jan-17 14:51:04

Me too Jane. I am adventurous when we eat out. I love trying something different.

Elegran Wed 25-Jan-17 14:58:01

But black isn't burnt black, it is browned just enough to make it taste nutty.

It is a British fault to shy away from anything that makes them appear knowledgable about food as though they would be acting "above themselves" - the French love food, and the kind of ordinary people who would be ordering beans on toast with a cup of strong tea over here are ready there to compare the virtues of different local cheeses and wines.