Friday, November 18, 2005

Culinary confusion

One of the things that I oft get confused about is the difference between a cutlet and a pattice. I can't seem to point out which is called which. And just when I have figured some difference, there would be some eatery that has to name the items the other way around.

As per current understanding:
A pattice is a plain potato-mashed round that is either shallow fried or deep fried with or without a batter cover. The English word is "patty", I guess...and therefore, the plural is "patties". The Indian spelling that one sees used in the restaurant menus is pattice. A pattice is mostly creamish in color and is mostly eaten with a gravy like chole/ragda.
A pattice, I think, is also referred to as a chop (or is it chaap), especially in the east of India.

A cutlet, on the other hand, has something to do with much more than potatoes. For example, one hears of a vegetable cutlet. This is mostly brown- or deep red-colored and is eaten with sauce or ketchup.

Occasionally, one finds eateries used these names to mean the other dish.

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