paillard

Definition

A boneless piece of meat pounded thinner than your patience during dinner rush, then grilled or sautéed quickly. Named after a Parisian restaurant, it's the culinary world's acknowledgment that sometimes thin and fast is the answer.

Example Usage

The chicken paillard cooks in three minutes flat, making it the hero of the a la carte station during a slam.

Origin

Named after Restaurant Paillard in Paris, 19th century

Fun Fact

Despite being named after a fancy Parisian restaurant, paillard is basically the technique behind every chain restaurant's 'grilled chicken breast' special.

Source: French restaurant and preparation terminology

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