Cooked Appetizers that can be Prepared in Advance

The value of these appetizers—cooked, but served warm, at room temperature, or even cold—cannot be overstated. These are dishes that can be prepared in advance—sometimes a day in advance or even more, but usually several hours—yet their quality does not diminish before serving.

In fact, it may improve; throughout the world, there are many countries where serving food straight from the oven, grill, or pan while it’s piping hot is not a high priority. Throughout the Mediterranean, especially, food is cooked in the cool temperatures of the morning and allowed to mellow for a couple of hours before serving.