Editors note: The correct pronounciation is “I’ll have the Saa-lod Nee-Swaz, he’ll have the Nyokkee.”

Face it, we all have a couple of ethnic foods we can’t pronounce. I’ve butchered “mascarpone” for years by referring to the Italian-style cream cheese as “mar-scapone.” And that seems rich since I hail from the Land of the Dropped R.

I’ve also been corrected once or twice on “habanero.”

Today, the foodie website Epicurious posted, “The Top 10 Most Frequently Mispronounced Foods.” Do check it out the list of victimized ethnic eats. It’s ear-opening, really.

When I posted the story on my Facebook page earlier today, my “MasterChef” war buddy Yi Lynne Weber wrote: “Broo-chetta” makes me want to shake people. My eye is twitching just thinking about how many people mispronounce it.” And my fellow Boston Foodie Tours guide Adrienne Bruno, who is fluent in Italian, commented: “This made my skin crawl, especially the comments. *shudder*” So it’s not just me.

However, the reporter skipped over one of my pronunciation pet peeves: Salade Niçoise, a composed plate of Bibb lettuce, small French potatoes, sliced tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, Niçoise olives, anchovies, capers, green beans and tuna dressed with a garlic vinaigrette.

It’s not Nee-Swah. It’s Nee-Swaz because, as I understand French, there’s an “e” at the end of Niçoise, hence the “z” sound. And if you don’t believe me, listen to Julia Child speak of the salad in this 1970 episode of “The French Chef.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnwORE68dgc

While sitting at lunch on the beach at Anse Marcel in St. Martin during our vacation a few weeks ago, the subject of the pronunciation of “Salade Niçoise” came up as my husband, parents and I perused the menu.

“I think I’ll have the Nee-Swah Salad,” announced my dad.

“Um, I think it’s pronounced ‘Nee-Swaz,’ Dad, because there’s an ‘e’ at the end of Niçoise,” I pleasantly offered, then turned to ask my husband — the one who can actually speak French —  “isn’t that true?”

“Uh, um, I don’t know,” he lied, a move to retain neutral like Switzerland in this French pronunciation discussion. (He, the man who makes me listen to Pimsleur tapes in the car, ordered a cheeseburger. Bastard.)

When the time came for the French waitress to take our lunch selections, Dad also ordered a cheeseburger, I asked for a “Salade Nee-Swaz” and my mother said, “I’ll have the same.”

Oh, well. I tried. C’est la vie!

Anyone else have a food pronunciation pet peeve? I’d love to hear it!

 

 

 

Tags: #ansemarcel, #epicurious, #foodpronunciation, #gnocchi, #habanero, #LauraRaposa, #mascarpone, #pimsleur, #saladenicoise, #speakingFrench, #stmartin, #TheFoodsmith, #thefrenchchef, JuliaChild