Canapés

Without question, canapés are the classic hors d’oeuvres. In fact, when most people think of hors d’oeuvres, it is some type of canapé that comes to mind.

Canapés are miniature open-face sandwiches. The French word canapé literally translates as “bed” or “sofa.” This term refers to the piece of bread, toast, or flat pastry that is the bed, or base, on which the other ingredients are placed. On top of that base, a canapé has two other elements: a filling, and a garnish.

In addition to the bread-like base, canapés can include virtually any other savory ingredient. Because canapés are a type of open-faced sandwich, many of the sandwich ingredients listed in Chapter 9 are appropriate for making them. However, canapés are expected to be elegant and impressive, so you often see luxury foods such as smoked salmon, shrimp, caviar, beef filet, or the more refined charcuterie products as fillings. Canapés that include these expensive ingredients usually don’t break your food cost budget because you use very little of them on each piece. Canapé garnishes must be tiny, attractive, and completely edible.