Tag: Food

Sookie’s Reviewed Food

The restaurant at the Independence receives a rave review from food critic Lucent Mills – his name suggesting that he both shines a light on a situation, and relentlessly grinds out the facts. I’m not sure why he is shown naked in the magazine, but for some reason he apparently is (to indicate that he hands out the naked truth?)

Bisque is a smooth, creamy soup of French origin, traditionally using crustaceans. Sookie made hers with lobster.

Entree is the American word for the main course, differentiated from the starter which is the appetiser. It’s slightly confusing, as in other countries entree is the word for the light first course, or appetiser.

Risotto is a rice dish from northern Italy, where the rice is cooked to a creamy consistency. It is traditionally coloured and flavoured with saffron, and often includes butter, wine, onion, and Parmesan cheese.

Handkerchief pasta is also known as silk handkerchief pasta, and in Italian called fazzoletti (“little handkerchiefs”). They are pasta noodles made into paper-thin square or rectangular shapes, often served with a very simple sauce, such as Sookie’s sage and butter one.

High tea

MICHEL: Can I kill her [Drella]?
LORELAI: Not before high tea.

In Britain, high tea was a heavy meal served at the end of the working day, consisting of meat or fish dishes with vegetables, including roasts, pies, stews and casseroles. It was what most people would call “dinner” today, although in British English “tea” can still be used to denote the main evening meal.

In international usage, “high tea” is often used as a synonym for afternoon tea, and at an inn, has connotations of a fairly elaborate, formal spread.

McDonald’s

PARIS: A D however, that would be cause for concern.
LOUISE: A cry for help.
PARIS: A job application at McDonald’s.
LOUISE: Would you like fries with that?

McDonald’s is a global-dominating chain of hamburger and fast food restaurants first founded by Richard and Maurice McDonald in 1940. It was franchised by Ray Kroc in 1955, and he later bought the business from the McDonald brothers, bringing in the aggressive business tactics the company is know for today.

“Would you like fries with that?” is a question commonly asked by McDonald’s employees, in an attempt to further boost sales. The phrase is often used to mock McDonald’s and their workers. At Chilton, working in the fast food industry is clearly a fate worse than death.

Strawberry shortcake

SOOKIE: I’ve got to make strawberry shortcake for 200 people. I think I’m gonna need strawberries.

Shortcake is a dessert made from a small sweet cake, or from what Americans call a biscuit – a small quickbread similar in appearance to a scone. Recipes for strawberry shortcake can be found in English cook books as far back as the 16th century. It is a common summer dessert in the US.

Jordan almonds

MICHEL (to Lorelai): Guests are checked in, baskets are given out, and 200,000 tons of Jordan almonds have been delivered.

Jordan almonds are almonds with a pastel-coloured sugar coating. They are traditionally given as wedding favours. Originating in Italy, they may not have a connection with Jordan, but the derivation of the name is uncertain.

Cassoulet

RICHARD: Dinner was lovely, Emily.
EMILY: Mira does make a perfect cassoulet.

Cassoulet is a rich slow-cooked casserole originating from the Languedoc in the South of France made with white beans, duck or goose, pork sauages, and sometimes other meats such as pork or mutton. It is named after the cassole it is cooked in – a deep round cooking pot.

In America, cassoulet is often used to mean any hearty bean-based meat casserole. It is unclear which type the Gilmores are eating, but I’d like to think the cosmopolitan Richard and Emily would insist upon an authentic cassoulet on their table.