What food do the French know as 'crème anglaise'?

Crème anglaise, literally "English cream", is a light, sweetened pouring custard used as a dessert cream or sauce. It is made by combining sugar, egg yolks, and hot milk. It is also often flavoured with vanilla.

Custard is made by whipping the egg yolks and sugar together, then gradually adding hot milk. It is cooked over a low heat whilst being stirred constantly with a spoon. When it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, the custard is removed from the heat.

Crème anglaise can be poured over cakes, pies, puddings and fruit, or eaten as a dessert on its own. In the French dish 'Île flottante' (floating island), custard is poured into a bowl with a piece of 'blancs en neige' (meringue) floated on top. It is also used as the base for desserts such as 'crème brûlée' (burned cream).