mon express x word

[fozzies123]

is 27a au gratin french cooking term meaning with the burnt bits thanks

[valsuey]

Au gratin means - with cheese

[dzug]

Um no.

It means topped with breadcrumbs and browned.

The cheese part is an optional extra.

Yes to the original question

[valsuey]

Noun, masculine (a) cheese topping; au ~ au gratin; ~ de macaronis macaroni cheese.
No mention of breadcrumbs there!

[dzug]

There seem to be as many definitions as dictionaries (which doesn't surprise me with French cooking - its so varied). I've now found two with cheese and two without.

Still yes to OP.

[waimarie]

This is from the chef's bible (le Repetoire de la Cuisine)

Gratiner - To pass in an oven or salamander a prepared dish, sprinkled with bread crumbs or cheese in order to give it a golden colour.

[Cetti]

To save everyone arguing 'au gratin' means burnt scrapings from the pan - plus it can be either breadcrumb, cheese or both.

[Space]

I'm french and for me it means with a cheese topping, browned in the oven.
I've seen some breadcrumbs-topped french dishes, but more rarely.

For example, pasta would have a cheese topping, and cassoulet can have a breadcrumbs topping.