The apéro dînatoire, a French apéritif that replaces dinner, is the most convivial way to entertain: no plated service, no dish to watch, just beautiful things to share and time to enjoy your guests. You still need to plan enough food, vary the flavours and get organized. Here are our ideas for an easy, generous French-style apéritif dinner, with the amounts to plan per person.
Apéritif or apéritif dinner: what is the difference?
The apéritif comes before the meal: a few bites to open the appetite. The apéritif dinner replaces the meal. It must therefore be more generous and varied, with savoury bites, more substantial pieces and, ideally, a sweet touch to finish.
The foundation: a beautiful charcuterie and cheese board
It is the heart of any successful apéritif dinner, and the easiest part to prepare. Combine several dry-cured saucissons, mini saucissons to snack on, a jar of duck rillettes and two or three cheeses, with bread, cornichons and some fruit. For the complete method, follow our guide how to make a charcuterie board.
Cold bites
Prepare them ahead: that is the whole point. A few simple, elegant ideas:
Gingerbread toasts topped with a slice of foie gras and a touch of fig chutney. Blinis topped with crème fraîche, dill and smoked salmon. Duck rillettes on toast with a thinly sliced cornichon. Cherry tomato, mozzarella and basil skewers for freshness.
Hot bites
One or two hot preparations are enough to make the apéritif dinner more filling. Puff pastry bites filled with duck rillettes, mini croque-monsieurs with ham and Comté, cheese gougeres or mini quiches can all be made ahead and reheated for a few minutes in the oven.
A showpiece
To make it special, add a prestige product in the middle of the table: a whole foie gras to slice yourself, with toasted gingerbread and fleur de sel. It is the highlight of the evening. Find our tips in what to serve with foie gras.
How much per person?
For a simple apéritif, allow 5 to 8 bites per person. For an apéritif dinner that replaces the meal, plan 15 to 20 bites per person, including 120 to 150 g of charcuterie, 80 to 100 g of cheese and some bread. It is better to plan a little extra: leftover charcuterie and cheese keep very well.
Planning your apéritif dinner
The day before, prepare the hot bites and keep them cold. On the day, two hours ahead, assemble the charcuterie and cheese board and cover it. Prepare the cold bites one hour ahead. At the last minute, reheat the hot bites, slice the bread and take the rillettes out of the refrigerator so they soften.
What to drink with an apéritif dinner?
A sparkling wine such as crémant or champagne to open the evening, then a light, fruity red for the charcuterie and a dry white for the cheese and salmon. Also plan a non-alcoholic option, such as homemade lemonade or flavoured sparkling water.
And to finish, a sweet touch
End with a few sweet bites: mini tarts, macarons, squares of fine chocolate or fresh fruit. They round off the apéritif dinner gently.
Our products for an apéritif dinner
For an effortless French apero, choose from our Minis Lyonnais with hazelnuts and Minis Chorizo, our duck rillettes with foie gras, our Périgord foie gras block and our mini blinis. Find the full selection in our apéritif collection, shipped across Canada.
FAQ
How many bites per person for an apéritif dinner?
Allow 15 to 20 bites per person for an apéritif dinner that replaces the meal, and 5 to 8 for a simple apéritif.
What to serve for an easy apéritif dinner?
A charcuterie and cheese board, a few foie gras and rillettes toasts, blinis and one or two hot bites reheated in the oven.
Can you prepare an apéritif dinner the day before?
Mostly, yes: hot bites and some toppings can be made the day before. Assemble the board and toasts on the day so they stay fresh and crisp.
How much charcuterie for an apéritif dinner?
About 120 to 150 g of charcuterie per person, mixing dry-cured saucissons, rillettes and a showpiece such as foie gras.
