en papillote

Definition

Cooking food sealed inside parchment paper or foil packets, steaming it in its own juices to create self-contained flavor bombs. The culinary gift wrap that makes dinner more exciting and cleanup nonexistent.

Example Usage

The sea bass en papillote was steamed with white wine, herbs, and julienned vegetables, then dramatically opened tableside.

Origin

French, meaning 'in parchment' or 'in butterfly,' referring to the paper's wing-like appearance

Fun Fact

The dramatic tableside opening releases a cloud of aromatic steam that's almost as important as the food itself in fine dining service.

Source: Classical French cooking techniques

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