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Glossary entry

Portuguese term or phrase:

couvert

English translation:

starters

Added to glossary by Soraia Martins
Feb 16, 2009 18:59
15 yrs ago
16 viewers *
Portuguese term

couvert

Portuguese to English Other Food & Drink Restaurant Menu
«COUVERT incluído no espectáculo: Pão, manteiga, azeitonas, linguiça, pastéis de bacalhau e pasta de atum»

This is part of a restaurant menu.
I thought about putting "Appetizers", but further in the text there's information about "Aperitivos", in which one can read the kind of drinks one may choose after the meal.

Thank you in advance!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 starters
4 +2 hors d'oeuvre
4 +2 starters (more common in the UK)/appetizers (more common in North America)
3 +1 appetizers
5 -1 snout fun
4 -1 cover charge

Proposed translations

+2
23 mins
Selected

starters

A suggestion. In most restaurants a "couvert" usually includes one or more of the following: a roll, butter, quail's eggs, olives, salad, pâté. In more expensive restaurants there is usually a charge (sometimes even for just a roll) while the budget restaurants, like those which serve the famous P.F. (prato feito) will give you a roll (no butter) for free.
Peer comment(s):
agree Amy Duncan (X) : This is good
17 mins
agree Floriana Leary : Yes! this is it.
56 mins
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you, Dixon :) I think this is it! Have a great evening! "
+1
13 mins

appetizers

in portuguese Aperitivo=Drinks
Peer comment(s):
agree Mary Palmer : Yes it can be "appetizers"...look here: http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/central-and-south-am... and here too: http://www.starvilla.com/eating_out.php
41 mins
neutral Floriana Leary : appetizers are more suffed mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, fried onions, yum yum yum, sorry I'm really hungry!
1 hr
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-1
18 mins

cover charge


Cover charge
At bars and nightclubs, or restaurants with live entertainment, a cover charge is a flat fee for entry to defray the cost of entertainment such as live musicians, singers or a DJ, or for the use of a dance floor, pool tables, or services such as dancing lessons. In some countries, restaurants without entertainment may have a cover charge or ("couvert") for bread, butter, olives, and other accompaniments.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cover_charge
Good luck!

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Note added at 20 mins (2009-02-16 19:19:30 GMT)
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Cover charges
One thing it took a while to cotton on to is the cover charge ('couvert' in Portuguese). This applies to all places, from greasy spoons to the posh end. When you sit down you are immediately given a basket full of bread, butter and cheese (usually a small whole soft sheep's cheese), sometimes in more upmarket restaurants you are served salami, cheese spread in individual portions and pates (also in individual portions). You are then charged for this - it comes under 'couvert' in the bill. Anything between 2 and 5 euros per head. Overall we had no complaints, as the bread and cheese is excellent. A lot of Portuguese order a dry white port as an aperitif to have with the bread and cheese. I took to doing this as well and thoroughly enjoyed it.
http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/port2004/culture/ente...
Peer comment(s):
agree Marlene Curtis
4 mins
Thank you!
neutral Paul Dixon : There are two concepts here. One, more often called "couvert artístico", is indeed a cover charge for entertainment. However, what we have here is just "couvert" which means a starter meal, as well shown in the context presented by Elcio.
7 mins
If you read the complete answer above: In some countries, restaurants without entertainment may have a cover charge or ("couvert") for bread, butter, olives, and other accompaniments.
disagree Amy Duncan (X) : Definitely not "cover charge" in this context
22 mins
disagree Floriana Leary : No not in this context, I agree with Amy
1 hr
Something went wrong...
-1
35 mins

snout fun

*
Peer comment(s):
disagree Floriana Leary : ???Never heard this expression before???
49 mins
It was on ProZ some 6 months ago and is probably in the glossary.
Something went wrong...
+2
39 mins

hors d'oeuvre

Depending on restaurant level... This may be a good suggestion.
Peer comment(s):
agree Amy Duncan (X) : This is good, too
2 mins
Thank you, Amy.
agree Mary Palmer : I like that!
15 mins
Thank you, Mary.
Something went wrong...
+2
47 mins

starters (more common in the UK)/appetizers (more common in North America)

I've always heard appetizers (sometimes hors d'oevres, depending on restaurant) in Canada and the US. I assume "starters" is more commonly used in the UK, just like "bill", instead of "check".

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Note added at 48 mins (2009-02-16 19:47:44 GMT)
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That's just my personal experience. I'm sure there are variations within both the US/Canada and all around the UK.
At home, we often called them "finger food".

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Note added at 51 mins (2009-02-16 19:50:35 GMT)
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appetizer = noun [countable] a small dish of food served at the beginning of a meal (=starters)

Start It Off Right - In England, appetizers are called "Starters". Here are some ideas to get the meal "started" off right. I was doing some cooking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. ...

www.franzcooks.com/Appetizers.htm - 5k - Em cache - Páginas Semelhantes

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Note added at 55 mins (2009-02-16 19:54:30 GMT)
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Depending on context, I'd use "SNACKS". Plain and simple. Both "appetizer" and "starters" give me the impression that another course will follow, which might not be the case.
Peer comment(s):
agree cattelles
8 mins
thanks!
agree Floriana Leary : Starters! Appetizers in the US is more stuffed mushrooms (yummy) mozzarella sticks (yum yum), sorry I'm, hungry....
36 mins
Tell me about it!!
neutral Amy Duncan (X) : your two answers were already posted
2 hrs
Sorry. Should I hide it? Can you move it to reference? What is the procedure? Is there one? I'm new here and would not have a problem with either action (hiding/moving it to ref.)
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