pâté

Definition

A rich, spreadable mixture of ground meat, fat, and seasonings, traditionally encased in pastry or terrine molds. The fancy French way of serving what is essentially sophisticated meat loaf that costs ten times more.

Example Usage

The restaurant's duck liver pâté was silky smooth and served with cornichons and toasted brioche.

Origin

French, from 'pâte' meaning paste or dough, originally referring to the pastry casing

Fun Fact

The difference between pâté and terrine is technically the cooking vessel—pâté is baked in pastry while terrine is cooked in a mold—but the terms are often used interchangeably.

Source: Classical French charcuterie terminology

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