En accolade is an architectural term, occasionally used in cooking to describe a method of food presentation.
It means two pieces of the same or like food on a plate arranged to lean on each other. It is also often applied to two cooked small birds on a platter.
Language Notes
“Accolade” come to mean “honours”, from a ceremonial embraces that were originally in Knighting ceremonies. The word comes from the French word “accoler”, meaning to embrace (coming in turn from the Latin “accolire”: “ad” plus “collum” meaning neck.)
“En accolade” is also used in furniture making.