Quenelle

Okay kiddo, have you heard the word "quenelle"? It's a French word that describes a type of food and also a hand gesture. Let me explain what both of these things are:

1. Quenelle as a type of food

Imagine it's dinner time and you're really hungry. Your mom brings you a plate with a big ball of mashed potatoes, fish or meat in an oval shape with a creamy sauce on top. This is called a quenelle! It's a traditional French dish that is shaped like a football or an oval. It's usually made with fish or meat and mixed with breadcrumbs, flour, eggs, and cream. The mixture is then shaped into a quenelle shape and cooked in water or stock. Sounds yummy, right?

2. Quenelle as a hand gesture

Now, imagine you're at a party and someone greets you with a friendly handshake, but instead of shaking hands, they put one hand on their shoulder and the other hand on their arm and point their elbow sideways. This hand gesture is called a quenelle! It's a gesture that was created in France and has become controversial because some people use it as a symbol of anti-Semitism and racism.

That's why it's important to remember that even if something looks harmless and fun, it's important to think about what it might mean to others. And that's the story of the quenelle!