Every morning around eight thirty, a lady at the hospital where I’ve been on the mend makes an announcement over the loudspeaker:
Les plateaux sont arrivés!
She’s letting the nurses know that all the trays of food for breakfast have arrived and can be delivered to each patient.
But plateau isn’t the only word you’ll hear for “tray” in the hospital (and out in the real world). The masculine word cabaret is used just as often by the nurses.
In Quebec, plateau and cabaret exist side by side in the sense of “tray.” This is true anywhere food is served, like cafeterias, shopping centres and fast food restaurants.
I hope now that if a cashier asks if you’d like a cabaret for your order, you won’t be caught with a blank look on your face wondering what was meant…
I also hope that your breakfasts are tastier than mine!
