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Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación

Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

tapas, platillos y raciones

English translation:

Snacks, dishes and portions

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2017-07-16 20:54:11 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Jul 12, 2017 22:59
7 yrs ago
6 viewers *
Spanish term

tapas, platillos y raciones

Spanish to English Other Cooking / Culinary
In the context of an advertisement for an oven sold to restaurants:

¡Prepare tapas, platillos y raciones en segundos con el horno ultra-rápido XXX!

I know what these are, but can anyone help with a clear and accurate way to express this in English?

Many thanks.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 Snacks, dishes and portions
4 +1 Snacks, appetizers, starters and main courses
4 +1 tapas, small dishes and portions

Discussion

Domini Lucas Jul 13, 2017:
I agree that portions would sound odd in English in the context
Lisa Jane Jul 13, 2017:
or large servings.
Lisa Jane Jul 13, 2017:
raciones I agree about raciones too and know thay are just a large serving of whatever tapas the customer prefers-but I don't think customers (potential oven buyers) would refer to cooking 'portions' in an oven unless they were serving Spanish raciones. Maybe they would say large dishes.
Lisa Jane Jul 13, 2017:
@DomiLu yes I agree with you about the target that in fact was the rationale behind my answer-I was thinking of someone who is trying to sell those ovens in a country other than Spain!
Domini Lucas Jul 13, 2017:
Raciones I agree with Carmen that raciones are tapas with more quantity
Domini Lucas Jul 13, 2017:
Re tapas being widely known I totally agree that tapas are widely known. I was thinking more that, if the context is to advertise the oven to English speaking restaurants that don't serve Spanish food (or not only), then terms that will appeal more widely to the restaurants might be more important than trying to translate or reproduce the Spanish specifics. All depending on further context.
Domini Lucas Jul 13, 2017:
Omit portions If the translation is for a readership that has no reference to the original Spanish I think I would agree with circumventing it altogether i.e. if the point is to promote the oven not Spanish food. I don't believe we have an English equivalent that would not confuse. When I first saw your post I was tempted to enter sth like "Create tasty dishes and snacks in seconds..." or "Cook up tasty dishes and snacks" (though personally I prefer create to cook up). If it is to be restaurant specific: starters, entrees or hors d'oeuvres might also be more appropriate than snacks, though I concur that snacks fits more closely with the tapas concept. I was so unsure about the raciones that I parked writing so as to ponder further. Hope this is of some value to you.
Alan Lambson (asker) Jul 13, 2017:
Great primer on what these terms mean. The best I can determine is that a ración would be a generous portion designed to be shared among members of a party. Something like "family style" serving in an Asian restaurant. Still not sure what to call this in English without giving a long, clumsy explanation. I might circumvent it altogether.
David Hollywood Jul 13, 2017:
http://partaste.com/la-carta-raciones-understanding-spanish-...
David Hollywood Jul 13, 2017:
a good ref on Spanish goodies

Proposed translations

+2
1 hr
Selected

Snacks, dishes and portions

If you prefer to provide english-adopted version of translation, I think this could be the right one.

https://www.piccavey.com/pintxos-montaditos-tapas-raciones/
Peer comment(s):
agree Gabriela Alvarez
2 mins
Thank you!
agree David Hollywood : http://partaste.com/la-carta-raciones-understanding-spanish-...
34 mins
Thank you!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
6 hrs

Snacks, appetizers, starters and main courses

This should cover everything one may cook in this oven as a racione could be considered by an English speaker as a main dish due to it's size and platos as starters or mains according to the food served. In the context I think it's irrelevent whether it's shared or not and if so could be considered a snack or appetizer if each diner only eats a small quantity.
Peer comment(s):
agree Timothy Juillerat
1 day 15 hrs
Thanks Tim!
Something went wrong...
+1
8 hrs

tapas, small dishes and portions

Nowadays foodies know what what tapas are. I really wouldn't used "snacks" for this. For example a medium-sized city like Glasgow has about a dozen, such as:
"Barca Tapas and Cava Bar · Tapas
Eat confident and simple tapas al fresco on terraces or in the Spanish inspired dining room."
Glasgow, UK
Great cocktails · Casual ·

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Note added at 8 hrs (2017-07-13 07:31:43 GMT)
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If you run a Google search for "tapas in Birmingham", or indeed any other UK town, you find that most places now serve "tapas".

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Note added at 8 hrs (2017-07-13 07:35:31 GMT)
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However, if your target audience is the land that gave us string cheese, Starbucks and super-sized fries, you may be better sticking to something that will be familiar to the majority.

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Note added at 8 hrs (2017-07-13 07:36:41 GMT)
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Even a small town like Northampton (UK) boasts around a dozen places serving tapas...
Example sentence:

Tapas amid mosaic tiles, colourfully cushioned benches, a red tile floor and simple wall ceramics.

Lively, stone-walled bar-restaurant serving authentic paella, tapas and other Spanish favourites.

Reference:

http://www.cafeandaluz.com/

Peer comment(s):
agree Carmen Blazquez : I agree, tapas is widely known already as to translate it for snacks. Also a "ración" is not a main course, but a tapa with more quantity.
56 mins
LOL, I remember trying to convince my wife of the virtues of "hervido" and her saying "but it's just boiled vegetables!"...
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