Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

Cordon bleu

English translation:

cordon bleu

Added to glossary by Paula Price
Sep 15, 2004 19:48
20 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term

Cordon bleu

French to English Science Food & Drink
Coquillages et crustacés frais
Cordon bleu cru réfrigéré ou surgelé
Cresson frais (brut + 4ème gamme)
Fromage au lait cru

(List of banned foods - food hygiene document)

Proposed translations

+5
20 mins
Selected

see comment below...

Well, a bit more context would help a lot, but I honestly cannot see why on earth anyone would globally ban ANY 'cordon bleu' dishes --- if indeed you could even define in any kind of objective way what comprises a 'cordon bleu' dish.

SURELY this is referring to the type of dish know as a 'cordon bleu' --- I've only come across this as 'chicken cordon bleu', though there are other rather disgusting varieties in cardboard boxes in my local supermarket that I wouldn't even deign to look too closely at...

I believe a key feature is that they combine RAW chicken with COOKED ham and cheese (and are often breadcrumbed, I think...).

Since here they are only banning the raw version [whether chilled or frozen], I can only imagine it would be something to do with the hazards of bacteria from the raw meat cross-contaminating the already-cooked ingredients; presumably once the whole think has been cooked, they'd have no further reason to object...

All these banned items seem to be ones likely to contain dangerous bacteria for people with reduced resistance, such as the elderly or pregnant women.

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Note added at 21 mins (2004-09-15 20:09:31 GMT)
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Sorry, PK, but I\'m typing as fast as I can...!

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Note added at 23 mins (2004-09-15 20:12:01 GMT)
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Oh, and PK --- the delay in posting my own answer was exactly because I was double-checking my hunch via Google; just check out how many hits there are for dishes named \'cordon bleu\' (as distinct from \'cordon bleu\' cuisine itself...)

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Note added at 38 mins (2004-09-15 20:26:18 GMT)
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In response to Suezen\'s comment:

Yes, in English I would like to see it with both a capital \'C\' and \'B\'; but you know how often the French only capitalise the first word, which is the case here (possibly hidden, because it\'s a list item)
As W/A suggests, the idea of a \'cordon bleu\' is more a way of preparing than anything else, and they are certainly available raw, and as such, can be either chilled or deep-frozen. Do you want me to pop down to the supermarché and get you one...? :-))

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Note added at 43 mins (2004-09-15 20:31:59 GMT)
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Well, for those who worship at the altar of Web references, here\'s just on from a total of over 26,000 Google hits for meremly \'chicken cordon bleu\' --- at least a goodly selection of which are referring to a dish prepared in a specific way, rather than simply chicken used in \'cordon bleu\' cuisine:

Absolute Recipes: Chicken Cordon Bleu
Chicken Cordon Bleu. serves 4.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 Ham slices (sliced thinly)
4 Provolone cheese [slices]...

www.absoluterecipes.com/chicken-rec/chicken-cordon-bleu.htm...

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Note added at 1 hr 0 min (2004-09-15 20:48:10 GMT)
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In further answer to Suezen\'s added comment:
Yes, clearly the issue is that the item in question is RAW; but can you really see any logic at all in banning any kind of raw food just because it is \'cordon bleu\' quality? A complete, global ban on ALL raw foodstuffs would make more sense...

It\'s not pedantic, but a dish that includes SOME cooked ingredients must still be regarded (from a food hygiene point of view, at least)as RAW [in fact, \'uncooked\' would probably be better here] if it also contains raw ingredients (and is normally served cooked, of course!) --- let\'s leave out steak tartare!

I\'m sorry, but I really firmly believe this is referring to a type of dish / way of preparing named \'cordon bleu\' rather than \'cordon bleu\' cooking in general.
Peer comment(s):

neutral writeaway : but it's really more of a preparation than a dish-you can cordon bleu pork, chicken, veal etc. It gets dodgy because of the fresh ham and cheese in the middle. I only get it from a reliable butcher and even then not often.
10 mins
Thanks a lot, W/A --- you're the only one who seems to understand what I'm trying to say. Yes, it's a way of preparation used in a number of dishes; but I think that is difficult to render in translation, so suggest allowing the simplification...
neutral suezen : Dusty, if it were the name of the dish itself, wouldn't it have a capital C and a capital B? I know the dish you mean and Iit's not brilliant, but here we're talking about refrigerated and frozen foods. I think the Cordon Bleu dish is only refrigerated
12 mins
Thanks, Suezen! Please see my added comment above...
agree Aoife Kennedy : Wow, you really got their gander up, Dusty, but I see what you mean, and that's exactly what I would have said. Well explained, too.
17 mins
Oh, on my knees, THANK YOU, Aoife! I really was beginning to feel like some kind of pariah out here :-)
agree Tegan Raleigh : "Cordon Bleu" should not be translated, because it is named after either a restaurant or cooking school (I'm pretty sure it's the latter) called the Cordon Bleu, which first came up with this dish (kinda like Watergate and Waldorf salads!)
31 mins
Thanks, Tegan! And you're right, it is indeed the Cordon Bleu School of Cookery
agree RHELLER : BIG health problem: here is a ref with "jambon cru" http://membres.lycos.fr/regal/recettes/poisson_cordon_bleu.h...
1 hr
Thanks, Rita! My goodness --- raw fish AND raw pig! Whatever next!?
agree ACOZ (X)
4 hrs
Thanks, ACOZ! (Do you have a brother BCOZ?) :-)))
agree LJC (X) : With you all the way, Dusty. Those who disagree should look in the chill-cabinets or freezers in any French supermarket.
12 hrs
Thanks a lot, Lesley! Your informed support is much appreciated :-)
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks a lot!"
-1
3 mins

as is or blue ribbon

although rarely used, the target term woudl be "blue ribbon"; however, the French term is also used in English text, most of the time.



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Note added at 33 mins (2004-09-15 20:21:40 GMT)
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I see a lot of opinions but very few facts or links;
Here is one drawn form a dictionary (Webster\'s online) which explains the origin of the term. It is merely a title of distinction that has come to be used as a noun or meal in itslef

Any dictionary will explain it.

Main Entry: blue-ribbon
Function: adjective
: of outstanding quality; especially : consisting of individuals selected for quality, reputation, or authority <a blue-ribbon panel>

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Note added at 1 hr 28 mins (2004-09-15 21:16:39 GMT)
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Not my definition; it\'s from the webster\'s on-line dictionary; and I can see what they mean by adjective... It\'s precisely the point I am arguing. It is an adjective having been steamrolled into service over the years as a noun. But it is not indicative of the meal but of the quality of the meal, hence the adjective status (in theory anyway). And to think, I actually did preface this whole thing by saying it is rarely used. I can see why now :)

cheers
Peer comment(s):

agree Hacene
2 mins
disagree Tony M : No, it's a specific dish! BTW, the most common version translated is 'Blue Riband'
8 mins
disagree df49f (X) : un "Cordon bleu" is a "Cordon Bleu" not a blue ribbon :-)
22 mins
neutral RHELLER : a noun, not an adjective
1 hr
see comment, Rita
Something went wrong...
+3
2 mins

uncooked refrigerated or frozen cordon bleu dishes

cordon bleu remains the same in English

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Note added at 47 mins (2004-09-15 20:35:47 GMT)
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Answer to Dusty:
I don\'t think we\'re talking about banning ALL Cordon bleu dishes, simply those which are sold frozen or refrigerated uncooked as, as you rightly point out, the mix of ingredients could activate harmful bacteria.
I\'m quite willing to ban your Cordon Bleu dish too (and no thanks, I really don\'t want one from the supermarket), but if we\'re going to be pedantic, the dish you\'re talking about is half-cooked and half-raw, therefore cannot really be termed \'cru\'?

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Note added at 9 hrs 5 mins (2004-09-16 04:53:58 GMT)
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Thoroughly cook ground meat or poultry BEFORE combining it with other ingredients in casseroles, meat sauces, etc.
Recipes for frozen dishes are cooked before freezing as different ingredients need different times for freezing and thawing. Even vegetables are generally blanched before freezing. Ingredients may be frozen separately, but not combined raw in one dish. This is particularly true for meat, eggs and other dairy produce.
Peer comment(s):

agree GILLES MEUNIER
6 mins
thanks Gilles
disagree Tony M : No, it's a specific dish! // Yes, exactly! How could they possibly ban EVERYTHING that was 'cordon bleu'????
8 mins
but surely we're talking about banned foodstuffs?
agree peekay : Dusty, before you go around ... disagreeing some more... you might want to check your facts or at least make us privy to them ...
15 mins
thanks peekay!
agree df49f (X) : "raw" would work fine as well
25 mins
thanks df
neutral RHELLER : why would frozen cordon bleu dishes be banned?
1 hr
it's the word raw which is important. Combining raw ingredients and then freezing them is considered dangerous. See new note
agree lys
3 days 17 hrs
thanks lys
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