I didn't know that about 'ante bellum'. Thanks.
I noticed that Maia had mentioned 'ingredients', which suggests a more edible meaning for 'dish', but just assumed that there was more in the context that she hadn't mentioned. Alternatively, one might ask 'Was there something about early nineteenth-century cows in the US, that would make 'pre-war butter' a meaningful phrase? ;-) Perhaps it was characterized by a specially high fat content...?
Maia:
- The word you wanted was 'enumerate'. ;-) The word numerado means 'bearing a number' - footballers' shirts are 'numbered'. I'm not sure - but don't think - 'numerate' is a verb in English. It is, incidentally an adjective (like 'literate', but with numbers). Like 'literate', 'numerate' has a schwa in the last syllable.
- Was the source set in late-'40s Europe? Because of food rationing (that carried on for several years after 1945) cheap or more plentiful substitutes were typically used for many foodstuffs*. 'Pre-war butter', in this context, might mean 'real butter, not margarine'. The idea of a type of food being 'a butter dish' (on the analogy of 'a fish dish' or 'a rice dish') isn't one I've met though.
*Personal recollection - well, I wasn't born at the time, but the story was a favourite at family gatherings. My half brother (many years my senior) went to boarding school, where margarine was always used as a substitute for butter. At a dinner party while he was on holiday (my father was in the film business, so currying favour with potential backers was important) he was invited as a special treat and warned to be on his best behaviour. When the food was served, my brother pointed at the Real Butter (specially bought for the occasion) and said 'Pass the marge.'
b