Delicacy

Delicacy
Wild Iranian Ossetra Caviar, ready to serve with mother-of-pearl spoons and Champagne.

A delicacy is a food item that is considered highly desirable in certain cultures. Often this is because of unusual flavors or characteristics or because it is rare.

Delicacies are different across different countries and ages. Flamingo tongue was a highly prized dish in ancient Rome, but is not eaten at all in modern times. Lobsters were considered poverty food in North America until the mid-19th century, when they started being treated as they were in Europe - a delicacy. Some delicacies are confined to a certain culture, such as fugu in Japan, bird's nest soup (made out of swiftlet nests) in China, ant larvae (escamoles) in Mexico and fiddlehead fern in Canada.

Examples

Black Périgord Truffle


  • Black headed gull eggs[2]

References


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  • Delicacy — Del i*ca*cy, n.; pl. {Delicacies}. [From {Delicate}, a.] 1. The state or condition of being delicate; agreeableness to the senses; delightfulness; as, delicacy of flavor, of odor, and the like. [1913 Webster] What choice to choose for delicacy… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • delicacy — [del′i kə sē] n. pl. delicacies [ME delicacie < ML delicacia < L delicatus: see DELICATE] 1. the quality of being delicate as in taste, odor, or texture 2. fragile beauty or graceful slightness, softness, etc.; fineness [the delicacy of a… …   English World dictionary

  • delicacy — [n1] daintiness, fineness of structure airiness, debility, diaphaneity, elegance, etherealness, exquisiteness, fragility, frailness, frailty, gossameriness, infirmity, lightness, slenderness, smoothness, softness, subtlety, tenderness, tenuity,… …   New thesaurus

  • delicacy — index consideration (sympathetic regard), decorum, discretion (quality of being discreet), fault (weakness), frailty, nuance, propriety ( …   Law dictionary

  • delicacy — late 14c., delightfulness; fastidiousness; quality of being addicted to sensuous pleasure, from DELICATE (Cf. delicate) + CY (Cf. cy). Meaning fineness, softness, tender loveliness is from 1580s; that of weakness of constitution is from 1630s.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • delicacy — ► NOUN (pl. delicacies) 1) delicate texture or structure. 2) susceptibility to illness or adverse conditions. 3) discretion and tact. 4) a choice or expensive food …   English terms dictionary

  • delicacy — [[t]de̱lɪkəsi[/t]] delicacies 1) N UNCOUNT Delicacy is the quality of being easy to break or harm, and refers especially to people or things that are attractive or graceful. ...the delicacy of a rose. ...a country where the feminine ideal is… …   English dictionary

  • delicacy — /del i keuh see/, n., pl. delicacies. 1. fineness of texture, quality, etc.; softness; daintiness: the delicacy of lace. 2. something delightful or pleasing, esp. a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness, or the like: Caviar …   Universalium

  • delicacy — noun 1 rare and expensive type of food ADJECTIVE ▪ great ▪ exotic, rare ▪ expensive ▪ local ▪ Have you tried any of the local deli …   Collocations dictionary

  • delicacy — noun 1) the fabric s delicacy Syn: fineness, exquisiteness, daintiness, airiness; flimsiness, gauziness, silkiness 2) the children s delicacy Syn: sickliness, ill health, frailty, fragility …   Thesaurus of popular words

  • delicacy — noun (plural cies) Date: 14th century 1. obsolete a. the quality or state of being luxurious b. indulgence 2. something pleasing to eat that is considered rare or luxurious …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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