Small Plates

Appears in
Professional Cooking: 10th Edition

By Wayne Gisslen

Published 2025

  • About

Yet another option lies in the modern popularity of “small plates” menus. Inspired by such concepts as Spain’s tapas, Greece’s mezze, and China’s dim sum, small plates give diners a chance to sample a wide variety of dishes and are increasingly seen in many restaurants. Menus feature small portions of a wide variety of dishes, often from many different cuisines, that can be enjoyed by single diners or shared by groups. For restaurants that want to offer a variety of foods with vegetarian appeal, such a menu concept gives unlimited opportunity without the necessity of designing main-course vegetarian dishes.