Appetizer facts for kids
An appetizer is a small, tasty dish served before the main part of a meal. It's meant to get your taste buds ready for the food to come! Appetizers are usually smaller portions than the main course.
Common examples of appetizers include shrimp cocktail, calamari, small salads, potato skins, mussels, bruschetta, or cheese and crackers. Sometimes, appetizers can be very fancy, especially in nice restaurants.
Appetizers are also often called "snacks" or "hors d'oeuvres."
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What is an Appetizer?
An appetizer is like a warm-up act for your stomach! It's a small dish that you eat before the main course of a meal. The word "appetizer" comes from the word "appetite," which means your desire to eat. So, an appetizer helps to build your appetite for the bigger meal ahead.
Why Do We Eat Appetizers?
People eat appetizers for a few reasons:
- To start the meal: They give you something to nibble on while you wait for the main dishes to be prepared.
- To awaken your taste buds: The flavors of appetizers are often designed to be exciting and make you look forward to more food.
- To share: Many appetizers are perfect for sharing with friends and family at the table.
Different Names for Appetizers
Appetizers have many names around the world!
Hors d'oeuvres
The term "hors d'oeuvres" (pronounced "or-DERVS") comes from French and means "outside the work." This means they are served outside the main courses of a meal. Hors d'oeuvres are often very small, bite-sized foods. They can be served hot or cold.
- Examples: Tiny sandwiches, mini spring rolls, small skewers of meat and vegetables, or canapés (small pieces of bread or pastry with toppings).
Snacks
Sometimes, appetizers are simply called "snacks." A snack is a small amount of food eaten between meals. While snacks can be eaten anytime, when they are served before a meal, they act as appetizers.
Amuse-bouche
In very fancy restaurants, you might hear of an "amuse-bouche" (pronounced "ah-MOOZ-boosh"). This is a tiny, single bite of food chosen by the chef. It's usually given for free before the meal starts. The name means "mouth amuser" in French, and it's meant to show off the chef's skills and excite your palate.
Types of Appetizers
Appetizers can be very different depending on where you are in the world and what kind of meal you are having.
Cold Appetizers
Many appetizers are served cold. These are often easy to prepare ahead of time.
- Examples: Salads, shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, or crudités (raw vegetables with dip).
Hot Appetizers
Other appetizers are served warm or hot. These might be fried, baked, or grilled.
- Examples: Calamari (fried squid), potato skins, small meatballs, or mini pizzas.
Appetizers Around the World
Many cultures have their own special types of appetizers.
- In Jordanian cuisine, you might find Meze, which is a selection of small dishes like dips, salads, and pastries.
- Zakuski are traditional appetizers in Russian cuisine, often including pickled vegetables, cured meats, and fish.
- In Hawaii, Poke (a raw fish salad) is a popular appetizer.
- Chaat is a common starter in Indian cuisine, known for its spicy and tangy flavors.
- In Japanese cuisine, "Zensai" refers to a small selection of appetizers served before the main course in a multi-course meal like Kaiseki.
Images for kids
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A tray of canapés, a form of hors d'oeuvres, at a cocktail party
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Hors-d'oeuvres (1623) by Pieter Claesz -
Various crudités served at a cocktail party
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Steward in a vintage 1920s railcar serving canapés on a tray as part of butler style service -
A tray of hors d'oeuvres -
Poke is a raw fish salad served as an appetiser in the cuisine of Hawaii -
Appetisers in a restaurant
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Tomato bruschetta
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Deviled eggs, a cold hors d'oeuvre
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Obložené chlebíčky, a Czech and Slovak appetiser or snack
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A selection of modern hors-d'oeuvres
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Hors d'oeuvres in Azerbaijani cuisine
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Chaat, a starter in Indian cuisine
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A sampling of starters in Northern Thai cuisine (Lanna cuisine)
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Zensai in Japanese cuisine
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Various hors d'oeuvres at a banquet of Romanian cuisine
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An appetiser served at a restaurant serving Swiss cuisine
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Typical Carinthian or Styrian "Brettljause", composed of different kinds of cold meat, horseradish, hard-boiled egg, meat paste, Liptauer, vegetables, butter and curd cheese
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See also
In Spanish: Aperitivo para niños
