Pâté is a food that has a long history and which is appreciated in many countries of the world. It is a culinary preparation which mainly consists of a farce, generally made up of minced meat and vegetables, coated in a puff pastry or in a crust. The pâté can be baked in the oven or in the pan, and there are many variations on the theme. Pâté is often associated with French cuisine, although many other countries have their own version of this food. In France, the pâté is traditionally served as a starter or as a main dish, accompanied by pickles or chutney. There are many variants of pâté in France, including pâté in crust, country pâté and foie gras pâté.