It pays to increase your word power

[geordy]

What is a mauresque? Whenever I am reading anything and there is a French word I don't know I make a note and consult my dictionaries when I get a chance. This I encountered in Total Chaos by J-C Izzo.
It is not in the dictionary or any of my food glossaries. It is a drink ordered by a bad guy in a Marseilles bar.

Anyone know what it is?

[Jody]

Can't find it in either of the 2 French food glossaries I have or in Larousse Gastronomique!

AHHH.. trust Google to have the answer!










Ricard
This summery aperitif became popular when absinthe was banned in France. Unchanged since 1932, its recipe includes anis stars from China and Vietnam, licorice, plants, water, and alcohol. Add Sirop d'Orgeat and you have a Mauresque cocktail. Sirop d'Orgeat is obtained by the cooking of ground almonds in syrup. Water and orange blossoms are often added

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Thanks to you both for explaining - I dislike licorice (anis) so now I know not to order this! (Already knew I didn't like Pastis . . . . )

[geordy]

Thanks demarais...I should have thought of google!

So it is like pastis but with the almond syrup. Everybody else in the book is of course drinking pastis and /or local wines..a bit of cognac here and there, single malt... and.the food descriptions are great!

And so far a very good read otherwise!

[geordy]

Here's another one..from same book, different bad guy...

orgeat: a syrup made from almonds, sugar, and orange or rose flower water.Differs from regular almond syrup in that it is cloudy, reg. is clear.
Used in many "tiki" cocktails most notably the Mai Tai!


Just noticed this was included in Demarais's post! But the older bad guy ordered just a glass of orgeat. No liquor, add water??

Belote: a French card game , being played in the bar

[Truffaut]

Skip the Orgeat, and use mint syrup, and you have a wonderful "Perroquet Vert"--"green parakeet"!

[geordy]

Another question about a drink! A diabolo? Defined as lemonade with fruit cordial..usually menthe???

The book in which it is ordered "The Engagement" by Simenon was written in 1933. Are they still ordered?

[annettecinca]

Geordy, Phread mentioned this in an earlier post:
www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=1182277382&page=1
I can't remember where I originally got the following info from (maybe TA?), but I have this in my notes under non-alcoholic drinks:
Diabolo menthes are made of mint syrup and limonade, which isn't lemonade at
all, but a lemony soda water kept on tap in most French cafes. The taste of limonade is a bit
like 7-Up or Sprite, and the mint syrup cools and cuts the sweetness. There are also diabolo
grenadines (with grenadine syrup), diabolo fraises (strawberry) and diabolo citrons (lemon).

[geordy]

But if you just order a diabolo, like they did in the book, what do you get..the mint? and is it alcohol? Like Creme de menthe or just a syrup..like Phread's kids had?

[annettecinca]

I don't know, but I'd sure like to find out, too!

[Anne]

Geordy - If you just order a diabolo then you'll get a diabolo menthe like the one described by Annette .
A waiter in a café may still ask whether you do indeed want mint, just to be sure that this what you have in mind .
And the mint is just mint syrup, no alcohol, because diabolo is typically a drink for children .

[geordy]

I don't think I want one...just curious.....

I've also seen people get a glass and spoon with what looks like menthe and add Perrier..is that called something too...? Or just Perrier avec???

[luckyluc]

Geordy, that would be called a Perrier menthe. Or if you would like a plain Perrier with a lemon slice, you would order a Perrier rondelle.