How to Do a Real French-style Apéro
It's different than cocktail hour, and it's magnifique.
L’apéro is simply one of my favorite parts of the day, as it’s like a little celebration before dinner. It’s normally served around 7:00pm, with dinner following after a pause at around 8:00 or 8:30pm.
L’apéro is not generally a huge charcuterie board or big bowls of chips and dip, but rather more petite portions. It’s generally a small nibble, so just a few slices of a good saucisson, or some radis au beurre (radishes and butter) or a great bowl of spiced nuts will do. (Scroll down for some inspiration).
Much to my delight, one day as I was strolling through Paris with Monsieur B, I discovered there’s a store made just for this lovely moment—La Fédération Française de l’Apéritif.
In fact there are several of these little shops around Paris and they’re so chouette (sweet). The spaces are charmingly designed and the people are friendly and helpful, answering questions about their artisan beers and tartinables. I highly recommend stopping by for gifts for your foodie friends back home or for well curated nibbles to enjoy at your hotel or Airbnb.
If you’d like to try a French-style apéro at home chez vous, here are a few nice ideas:
Pain aux tartinables. Tartinable means “spreadable” so these are just small slices of good bread or toast rounds, topped with tasty spreads. Could be an olive tapenade, a salmon cream spread, or really any combination. I also really like to use concombre (cucumber) sliced into rounds instead of bread, and put the tartinables on top.
Des dates au bacon. This is just dates with the pits removed, wrapped in half a slice of bacon and baked until sticky and crispy.
Des noix. Any kind of nuts or blend of nuts, seeds and dried fruits.
Des oeufs mimosa. The French version of deviled eggs. Yum!
Dès de fromage. Take your favorite hard cheese and cut into squares (“dès with the accent means “dice”). Provide a container of toothpicks nearby.
For apéro drinks with a French flair, try any of the following:
Champagne
Port (white or red)
Lillet (white or red)
Kir (simple dry white wine with a splash of crème de cassis or other flavors)
Pastis (mostly enjoyed in Summer in France)
Aperol Spritz
Or just a simple glass of wine or beer
The point, if you want to really do l’apéro French-style, is to keep it small and light. No giant dip bowls, no huge slices of bread. One or two small drinks with little bite-sized things that leave room for dinner.
Bon apéro tout le monde !
Great article about an indispensable (and beloved) French tradition. It’s worth noting that products by FFA (Federation Française de l’Aperitif) can be found at Monoprix stores.