My Comical Le Cellier Story

[bytheblood]

Earlier this year, when my friend and I went in May, we dined here for the first time based on the reviews from Disboards.
We called it "The Cellar" to be funny.

Before I called to make my reservation, I went to my manager, who is from France, (meaning she speaks French fluently) to ask her how to pronounce it correctly. She said it is pronounced Lay-Cell-Yay. Of course, she said it with such a nice and natural flow that the letters were not so sharp. I could not write it as phonetically as I can say it.

Anywho...
So when I called to book it, I pronounced it that way and the CM who was making the reservation wanted to correct me. She said it is pronounced it Lou-Cell-e-air. I did not say anything, I just chuckled about it and said “okay, thank you!”

We later decided to change the time….so I called back and wouldn’t you know it, I got her again. I again pronounced it correctly (as I was taught by a French speaking person) and she corrected me again. This time I said, "Actually, I am sitting by somebody who speaks French fluently as she is from France and she said it is pronounced "Lay-Cell-Yay"...the CM said, well, this is in Canada, not the France pavilion and they speak Canadian. So in the Canadian language it is pronounced "Lou-Cell-E-Air."



Anyhow, I thought it was kind of funny and wanted to share.

The moral of the story is: The customer is not always right and you should correct their Canadian when you have the opportunity!!


But anyway, if anybody is considering dining here, the food is really good. The service was lacking, but the Filet and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes were wonderful and I really enjoyed the Wasabi Shrimp Cocktail.

The Whisky Brushed Chocolate Cake was good too, but I was stuffed by the time it was brought to our table.

 

[byoung]

The Mussels appt is out of this world.

 

[OKWMom]

But anyway, if anybody is considering dining here, the food is really good. The service was lacking, but the Filet and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes were wonderful and I really enjoyed the Wasabi Shrimp Cocktail.

The Whisky Brushed Chocolate Cake was good too, but I was stuffed by the time it was brought to our table.

I am sorry the service was not up to par when you dined there. We had dinner there on 12/16 and the service was excellent. Our server went above and beyond the call of duty to get me a drink that was not on their drink menu. I had one at Narcoossee's and could not even remember the name of it. He had me describe it and then had one of the managers call the bar at Narcoossee's for the ingredients. It wasn't exactly the same, but it was wonderful and I was really touched by the extra effort.

 

[Ellester]

Hilarious story! I wonder if Berlitz has a "How to Speak Canadian" course available?

 

[chamonix]

while generally I have been happy/satisfied with my interactions with the CMs on the phone, I agree that correct pronounciation is definitely a problem for a lot of them!

I always have a good (natured) chuckle over their struggles with that stuff when they are suggestiong alternate restaurants and resorts to me.

Although I have never tried to correct them, I would probably bust out laughing if someone tried to tell me about the "Canadian language!"

 

[TigerKat]

The Mussels appt is out of this world.

The best thing I ate all week!!!!!!!

 

[Belle1997]

Lou-Cell-E-Air is the correct way for Quebec french. There is a big difference from Paris french and Quebec french. So since you were visiting the Canadian Pavillion then you were unfortunately told incorrectly but you will never get I was wrong the French look down on the Quebec french I think. They see it as slang. But they still want to be part of the France instead of Canada. But that is a way too long story. Just that we here in Canada deal with the fact that Quebec always wants to separate from Canada and join france.

I do not speak french even though I learned it all through school. But I know how to read it LOL.

 

[drag n' fly]

Hilarious story! I wonder if Berlitz has a "How to Speak Canadian" course available?

Hope this helps

http://www.tourcanada.com/comedy.htm

 

[bytheblood]

Lou-Cell-E-Air is the correct way for Quebec french. There is a big difference from Paris french and Quebec french. So since you were visiting the Canadian Pavillion then you were unfortunately told incorrectly but you will never get I was wrong the French look down on the Quebec french I think. They see it as slang. But they still want to be part of the France instead of Canada. But that is a way too long story. Just that we here in Canada deal with the fact that Quebec always wants to separate from Canada and join france.

I do not speak french even though I learned it all through school. But I know how to read it LOL.

Interesting.

However, "Canadian" is not the proper language.

 

[Squidrific]

We had dinner at Le Cellier this evening and it was wonderful! This has always been my favorite restaurant and I have never had a bad meal, but the service has been slow in the past. This evening we had a waiter named John who is from the west coast of Canada. He was very attentive, friendly, made recommendations and was extremely knowledgeable. Based on his recommendation I changed from my usual Wasabi Shrimp to the beef kabab and it was terrific. I have read some bad reviews recently and was worried, but the food was as wonderful as always and tonight the service was excellent!

 

[Timon]

I was born in Quebec and was taught "Parisian" french in school and there is no difference with the way they pronounce it. It is Cell-yay...actually if you say it slower it is more like cell-eee-a (as in the letter "a") but it's definitely not LAY...it is LUH .... like "duh" (you know, when kids say well, DUH..I knew that!) with an L!

But frankly with food that good, I don't care what people call it! Can't wait till October to eat it again!!

 

[MsTinkerChele]

La See Yuh Luh Lay E- AR....
I think THE CELLAR is good

 

[Fairy_Tale_Bride]

My DH's entire family is French Canadian and they all actually came to the USA from Canada. I also learned from them that the French language they speak there is quite different, which I find weird and confusing. But anyway...

 

[Scratch42]

I was born in Quebec and was taught "Parisian" french in school and there is no difference with the way they pronounce it. It is Cell-yay...actually if you say it slower it is more like cell-eee-a (as in the letter "a") but it's definitely not LAY...it is LUH .... like "duh" (you know, when kids say well, DUH..I knew that!) with an L!

But frankly with food that good, I don't care what people call it! Can't wait till October to eat it again!!

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Maybe we can equate it with speaking the King's English.....do we in America speak the Queen's English, I thought I would use Queen since that is who is in power now....no we do not, I am sure they shudder at how we speak...

Did you ask the CM on the phone how to pronouce Le Cellier or did she take it upon herself to just correct your pronunciation? If she took it upon herself to do so, I would find that annoying.. I probably would have said, thank you so for the French lesson, but I just need reservations.. I know, my bad.

 

[judykay53]

We call it The Cellar too!! Much easier.

Timon - Been wondering about you. Congratulations!!

 

[Wazzo]

I was born in Quebec and was taught "Parisian" french in school and there is no difference with the way they pronounce it. It is Cell-yay...actually if you say it slower it is more like cell-eee-a (as in the letter "a") but it's definitely not LAY...it is LUH .... like "duh" (you know, when kids say well, DUH..I knew that!) with an L!

But frankly with food that good, I don't care what people call it! Can't wait till October to eat it again!!

With most of my family in Montreal, I agree with this too!!

I also agree about the food!

 

[bavaria]

Lou-Cell-E-Air is the correct way for Quebec french. There is a big difference from Paris french and Quebec french. So since you were visiting the Canadian Pavillion then you were unfortunately told incorrectly but you will never get I was wrong the French look down on the Quebec french I think. They see it as slang. But they still want to be part of the France instead of Canada. But that is a way too long story. Just that we here in Canada deal with the fact that Quebec always wants to separate from Canada and join france.

I do not speak french even though I learned it all through school. But I know how to read it LOL.

Without starting a long lesson in French language, Canadian history, and Canadian politics I do feel that I need to make some corrections for our American readers.

As others have pointed out, the pronunciation is le sell-yay.

Quebecois separatism is NOT about joining France. It is about becoming a sovereign nation. The last referendum on the subject was in 1995, and the vote for separatism was (narrowly) defeated.

Canada has been officially bilingual since 1969; French has been the official language of Quebec since 1974.

Whatever one's political leanings, I believe that the French speaking population in Quebec and many other provinces (New Brunswick, Ontario, and Manitoba to name just a few) contribute to the unique culture of Canada.

Back to your regularly scheduled discussion about steak...

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

How do you say O'hana's in Canadian?

 

[bavaria]

How do you say O'hana's in Canadian?

Well, that's actually a lesson in grammar, isn't it? 'Ohana means 'family', don't you know?!