what is canapes

Canapés are a type of hors doeuvre, a small, prepared, and often decorative food, consisting of a small piece of bread or cracker, wrapped or topped with some savory food, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite. They are usually served as an appetizer or before dinner, and they are often paired with cocktails. The name comes from the French word for sofa, drawing on the analogy that the garnish sits atop the bread as people do on a couch. The composition of a canapé consists of a base (e.g., the bread or pancake), a spread, a main item, and a garnish. The base can be a small piece of bread, pastry, or crackers, and the spread is traditionally either a compound butter or a flavored cream cheese. The main item can be meat, cheese, or vegetables, and the garnish can range from finely chopped vegetables, scallions, and herbs to caviar or truffle oil. Canapés are usually simple in their construction, so that they dont topple over or make a mess while eating. When making canapés, hosts usually plan for around four per person as a starter, or 12 for a main.