What clue would I have had, prior to this thread, that anyone commonly uses the word, besides people on cooking shows? Other posters in this thread, besides myself, have never heard the word used, either. And just because it’s used on national television, it’s not used every day on any of the networks I usually focus on.
Look, it’s just a poll. I voted that I didn’t think it was a common word. You do think it’s common. Let’s just agree that your mileage and mine vary greatly from each other’s. It’s just opinion, after all.
I agree. The only reason this is an issue is because the regionalism is “foreign-sounding” and therefore perceived as “snobby” to some people. Would we have the same argument about whether something is a “gangway” or an “alley”?
I have used it… think it’s common. I watch a lot of cooking shows. I have hosted and gone to a number of parties, cocktail parties, gatherings, girls’ night get togethers, etc… and there is always crudites. Any time I have offered to bring the crudites and some wine, friends and/or family seemed to know exactly what I was talking about.
Didn’t we just do a thread about words we always mispronounced in our heads when we read them, only to :smack: when we finally heard them out loud?
I have known and used the word since the 80’s, at least. I’m from Cleveland, and I can assure you the word has appeared in The Plain Dealer newspaper! But when I first learned the word I was living on an Army base in Georgia. Or was it Colorado? No matter…the word has been in my common vocabulary forever, and I do not think any of my circle would be confused b it. That being said,though, Veggie tray or Veggies and Dip is much more often used, in part because the C word seems to conjure up a more formal, stylized and elegant presentation of raw vegetable chunks and dip than you get on your standard supermarket deli black plastic tray with the container of Ranch or Dill dip in the middle. I make a large veggie tray once every couple of weeks for large receptions. If I make one for a smaller party, I may refer to it by the C word depending on whether I include snap peas and asparagus.
Okay, thanks for restating my point for me, I guess?
Influence does not equal control, correct. No matter what I do, there is always going to be someone, somewhere, who’s prepared to be offended over the least offensive thing, whether offense is intended or not. So I can either go through life walking on eggshells, or I can just act honestly and true to myself.
It’s just not a big deal if you, or I, ask what a word means. That’s a normal part of a conversation that goes deeper than the weather. Thank god I don’t personally know anyone who’d think that either asking or answering is remarkable at all. If you’re offended that 1> I actually use the vocabulary I have, and 2> I’m not psychic and can’t know in advance whether you know all the same words I know, sorry, dear, but that’s on you, not me.
For what it’s worth, my BIL could be called a redneck – rural, hunter, taxidermist, never lived in a city, sure as shit doesn’t watch the food channel – but I have literally never had to modify my language for him in conversation. He’s never gotten lost. He’s never gotten offended over my vocabulary. And we’ve had some pretty deep conversations on death, love, and life. And some shallower ones on food and coffee, too.
I prefer to respect people enough to believe that they can keep up with me.
Okay, I have to try this now. I love asparagus, but I’ve never had it raw.
I selected ‘know it but not common’ assuming that it means not common in the States. I lived in France for most of a decade, however, and the word is of course widely used there.
I’d tell you to blanch it to make it nice and green, but I’m not sure if everybody in the entire world knows what that means so I don’t want to appear pretentious.
I voted “knew it and it’s common” but after reading this thread, now I’d say “not so common.” I don’t remember where or when I learned it; most likely it was from a book . I don’t think anyone would stare at me if I used it in conversation, but “veggie tray” is far more common.
Middle Tennessee, but with significant exposures to other cultures.
DC metro. Cooking is a hobby, and I consider myself accomplished in the kitchen. But I never heard this word until just now. I’ve also worked in a fair number of restaurants from greasy spoons to fairly high end, but in none of theses did we ever prepare big platters of raw veggies for customers to munch on. Isn’t that what the salad bar is for?
From what I gather, veggie platter:crudités as appetizer:hors d’ oeuvre.
For those that say they learned it on cooking shows, what kind of a cooking show spends air time showing you how to cut veggies into bite-sized pieces? Do they also explain how to prepare canned soup and make homemade ice cubes?
Maybe the next thread ought to ask if people know what béchamel sauce is.
Ok…in a restaurant, you wouldn’t get a BIG platter of veggies as an appetizer because you couldn’t eat a big platter by yourself. You might order a small plate for one or two. You are more likely to encounter it as a selection on a buffet, or at brunch. Or at a party.
And on a cooking show? The emphasis would most likely be on the dip…how to make one, like the Barefoot Contessa’s Sundried Tomato Dip…and then they would arrange a selection of crudite ( I do not know how to make the accent mark) around the bowl of dip. Most often in a recipe you may find the words “Serve with a selection of crackers or crudite”
Next time I’m in DC I will try to document how many times I see it listed on a menu.
Sorry, but I’m in Southern Ontario, know the word, what it means, use it often, and most everyone I know, does to.
Sorry to disappoint, Sunspace and Leaffan, after reading the thread (before going to work), I conducted a little survey, over 8 hrs, and asked lots of people if they knew it. Better than 80% of the people I asked did.
I don’t think it’s a regional thing. More an exposure thing. If you hang in roadhouses and home parties and BBQ’s, it’s more often called a veggie platter. Upscale catered affairs, weddings, openings, etc, (events that display menus for the evening), all call it crudite.
We are all so predictably human, aren’t we? Convinced that if we haven’t heard of it, it’s not ‘widely’ known. Not just convinced, certain.
