Don't feel blue if you call the cheese "blue" instead "bleu" (ingredients, pastry)

[ABQConvict]

I call it 'blue' unless it is French. I mean, I would feel a bit stupid saying (or writing) something like, 'I love Bleu Stilton.'

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by Murk

I always figured it was "blue cheese" and "bleu french-word-for-cheese." If you translate one thing, why not the other?

I haven't a clue, that's why I wondered why it's spelled "bleu" (but I -- I can't speak for anyone else -- say "blue").

PS. "Cheese" in French is "fromage" but you didn't hear it from me because I *refuse* to speak French.

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

I call it 'blue' unless it is French. I mean, I would feel a bit stupid saying (or writing) something like, 'I love Bleu Stilton.'

See how much I know? (Nothing. )

I thought that when you write "bleu cheese" (or say "blue cheese"), it's referring to the *kind* of cheese (blue) and not a specific type (Stilton). I've never heard anyone say (or seen anyone write) anything other than "Stilton" just like that. Not "bleu/blue Stilton."

Just the same was as I always say "gorganzola," which is also bleu/blue.

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by DawnMTL

I've never heard anyone say (or seen anyone write) anything other than "Stilton" just like that. Not "bleu/blue Stilton."

The dairies that produce Stilton cheeses officially refer to their varieties as Blue Stilton if with mold, or White Stilton if without. I think since the majority of Stiltons are Blue, it is just assumed and the cheese referred to simply as Stilton. I myself have never had, or even seen, a White Stilton in a shop.

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

The dairies that produce Stilton cheeses officially refer to their varieties as Blue Stilton if with mold, or White Stilton if without. I think since the majority of Stiltons are Blue, it is just assumed and the cheese referred to simply as Stilton. I myself have never had, or even seen, a White Stilton in a shop.

Fascinating! I had no idea! I'm going to look for it.

You know that I have a craving now for that, um, color-of-the-sky-on-a-clear-day cheese, right?

[Unsettomati]

Originally Posted by DawnMTL

I'd been "taught" that the correct spelling is "bleu cheese" but that's not because I'm from Montreal -- really, I barely speak French. Yet, I'm always a bit proud when I see an American write "bleu cheese" instead of "blue cheese."

I'm an editor, so it did make me curious as to what the "correct" spelling is: bleu cheese (as I knew it to be) or blue cheese (as is sometimes written on this forum and elsewhere).

In case you were also curious:

The Grammarphobia Blog: Is the cheese blue or bleu?

I was surprised.

Well, since cheese is not French, it is rather silly if anyone insists that any phrase which includes that word is 'correct' based on the French language. In French, cheese is le fromage. Also, in French almost all adjectives (including colors) follow the noun. As such, in French 'blue cheese' is rendered le fromage bleu. So the whole idea of bleu cheese being correct because of the French language ignores the other two things wrong with that phrase from a francophone point of view.

Either bleu cheese or blue cheese is perfectly acceptable in English.

[DawnMTL]

Originally Posted by Unsettomati

Well, since cheese is not French, it is rather silly if anyone insists that any phrase which includes that word is 'correct' based on the French language. In French, cheese is le fromage. Also, in French almost all adjectives (including colors) follow the noun. As such, in French 'blue cheese' is rendered le fromage bleu. So the whole idea of bleu cheese being correct because of the French language ignores the other two things wrong with that phrase from a francophone point of view.

Either bleu cheese or blue cheese is perfectly acceptable in English.

I know that it's not correct in any way -- mixing of languages, grammatically, etc... French is the primary language in the city where I live so I know "les rules."

I just found it interesting how the majority of people -- whether here in Canada, in the States, on this very forum, in Europe, etc... -- write "bleu" and not "blue."

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by DawnMTL

I know that it's not correct in any way -- mixing of languages, grammatically, etc... French is the primary language in the city where I live so I know "les rules."

I just found it interesting how the majority of people -- whether here in Canada, in the States, on this very forum, in Europe, etc... -- write "bleu" and not "blue."

That places me firmly in the minority.

[Debsi]

I think a salad with bleu cheese dressing sounds more delicious.

Deal with that!

[GrandviewGloria]

It's either 'Fromage Bleu', or 'Blue Cheese'. Or, since the French tend to be rather specific about their cheeses, a more specific designation could be something like 'Fromage Bleu d'Auvergne' (Fromage AOP d) or, in English, "The 'Bleu d'Auvergne' Cheese", or "The Blue Cheese of Auvergne".

As for Croissants... One either says 'Crescent Rolls', or pronounces the word, with a casual approximation of correctness, in the French accent of one's choice (Quebecois VS Ile de France, par exemple...). The uncouth, however, may insist that one pronounce the word "Kroy-seeyyyaaaaaant", or whatever grating bastardization of the French term prevails in that locality. I prefer to avoid such people.