A
chafing dish (from the French
chauffer, "to make warm") is a kind of portable grate raised on a tripod, originally heated with
charcoal in a
brazier, and used for foods that require gentle cooking, away from the "fierce" heat of direct flames. The chafing dish could be used at table or provided with a cover for keeping food warm on a
buffet. Double dishes that provide a protective water jacket are known as
bains-marie and help keep delicate foods, such as fish, warm while preventing overcooking.