I have always been in favor of preparing a few appetizers when you have guests at home. In many cases, they can be prepared a little in advance, which lets you spend time with your guests when they arrive, and I think that is a fantastic way to start a lunch or dinner. If the group is large, I suggest serving a welcome cocktail or punch as well. It’s ideal for breaking the ice!
I always keep several things in mind when preparing appetizers:
- I prefer a looser presentation for appetizers, with each portion having room to breathe, rather than having the portions touching. That way, when someone picks one up, the others won’t get disturbed.
- Each guest should be able to try every appetizer, so you’ll know the minimum number of units you need for each one. If I make more, I try to make them even-numbered portions, although that will vary depending on the appetizer you’re preparing.
- Simplicity is a win: I recommend using quality ingredients or winning combinations, without overcomplicating things. A plate of ham will be a talking point if it is top quality and sliced well; or a mini toast will surprise guests by showing just a little cheese and walnut, while delivering a delicious truffle flavor thanks to that special oil you’ve added.
- Don’t overload it: there’s no need to add too much seasoning to each portion. The important thing is to taste it and enjoy it. If you overdo it, small pieces will easily fall onto the plate, which won’t help the presentation, or guests may struggle to eat it gracefully and elegantly. Don’t put them through that!
- Remember not to serve oily portions or ones with sauce on wooden boards or rimless plates, or it could spill onto the tablecloth.
Now that these few basic guidelines have been covered, it’s time to see how they can be presented. The nature of the appetizer will give a good clue for deciding how to do it. Here are some ideas.
If you’re thinking of serving cured meats, I think a wooden board is always the best choice. You can play around with presenting them on a round board or a rectangular or long one, depending on the space or table you have. If you want to present cheeses, wood is definitely the best option if they need to be cut, but if you present them already cut, I would consider the marble stand, a rectangular tray, or a pretty plate, where you can arrange them in triangular slices.
Round Le Creuset mini cocottes and Tokyo Design Fleur de Ligne range of plates, bowls, and trays
The bowls will serve you just as well for serving an appetizer as for serving a sauce. They can help turn the table into a burst of color or into a very elegant appetizer spread... That’s why I’ve always thought it’s important to have beautiful bowls that suit your style. The ceramic mini cocottes will serve the same purpose, and you can also bring them to the table covered and open them at the last moment (especially for hot appetizers, since they will help retain heat), or present them already with the lid slightly open, which looks charming and creates some intrigue about what’s inside.
If what you want is to serve a sauce, jam, or chutney, you can place the bowl in the middle of the board, tray, or plate where you’ve arranged those little toasts, crackers, or cheeses you want it to go with. Presenting everything on the same support, sauce and toast or the like, helps make it clear what that sauce or chutney is meant to be paired with. And remember to include a small spoon in the bowl so people can serve themselves!
If you’re making skewers, arrange them in parallel and in a tidy way on a tray or plate. Doing it well or carelessly makes a world of difference in the final presentation. The same goes for serving small open-faced sandwiches or canapés.
Green Cosmos trays by Tokyo Design, MasterClass baguette board and Kitchen Craft slate plates
If you’re looking for a different way to serve certain appetizers, slate stones can be very useful: a few well-spread toasts look original and well presented there, and the contrast with the color of the stone makes them stand out even more.
centerpieces are also original and practical ways to serve appetizers: everything stays together and well presented, with no extra fuss. And porcelain spoons are a great option when you want to surprise guests with a delicate and elegant appetizer.
Tokyo Design porcelain spoon and Masterclass appetizer centerpiece
First impressions matter, and details count — or so I believe! That’s why I feel that starting the meal with tasty, well-presented appetizers helps create a relaxed atmosphere and leaves a great memory of the feast. I hope these ideas help make the next guests at home think when they see the table, "What a meal I’m in for!"
NOTE: We recently added several ranges of Tokyo Design Studio porcelain plates, bowls, and trays that I’m absolutely in love with. I invite you to take a look at them; they’re perfect for appetizers.
