vol-au-vent
Savory pastry case
A vol-au-vent is a small round pastry shell made of puff pastry, hollow inside and meant to be filled with savory mixtures—typically creamed chicken, seafood, or mushrooms.
The French name means "flight in the wind," suggesting the pastry's lightness.
Vol-au-vents appear most often as appetizers or in formal dining: The caterer served vol-au-vents filled with lobster mousse.
Domestic fowl for eating
- mushroomFleshy fungal body
- béchamelMilk-thickened flour sauce
- creamySmooth and rich
- savoryAppetizing, not sweet
seafood · sweetbreads · ragout · lobster · shrimp · asparagus · ham · veal
Crumbly or unreliable
- laminatedBonded between protective layers
- butteryRich like a spread
- chouxTwice-cooked pastry dough
- goldenBright yellow, or precious
shell · crust · dough · bake · oven · crisp · layers · hollow
Topped bite-sized appetizer
- hors d'oeuvreSmall savory appetizer
- amuse-boucheComplimentary chef's tasting bite
- starterInitiator of action
- buffetSelf-service meal display
blini · elegant · bite-sized · passed · reception · platter · garnished · individual
Characteristic cooking style
- classicOf lasting excellence
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- EscoffierPioneering French culinary master
- bistroInformal small restaurant
brasserie · Parisian · provincial · culinary · gastronomy · elegant · refined · presentation
chicken
Domestic fowl for eating
savory · seafood · sweetbreads · ragout · lobster · shrimp · asparagus · ham · veal · truffle
flaky
Crumbly or unreliable
golden · shell · crust · dough · bake · oven · crisp · layers · hollow · risen
canapé
Topped bite-sized appetizer
- hors d'oeuvreSmall savory appetizer
- amuse-boucheComplimentary chef's tasting bite
- starterInitiator of action
buffet · blini · elegant · bite-sized · passed · reception · platter · garnished · individual · portion
cuisine
Characteristic cooking style
- classicOf lasting excellence
- traditionalFollowing long-held customs
- EscoffierPioneering French culinary master
bistro · brasserie · Parisian · provincial · culinary · gastronomy · elegant · refined · presentation
- French cuisinebaguette, croissant, coq au vin, crepe suzette, croissants
- pastriescroissant, danish, croissants, butter croissant, eclairs
- Belgian thingsBelgian waffles, Belgian fries, Belgian chocolate, Belgian beer, Belgian endive
- thin foodstortilla, crepe, phyllo, lavash, nori
vol-au-venthot pocket
Branded stuffed frozen turnover
pizza roll · pot pie · pasty · meat pie · sausage roll
vol-au-ventdumpling
Cooked dough morsel
bread bowl · hardtack · shortbread · unleavened bread · matzo