Per Wikipedia “An apéritif (also spelled aperitif) is an alcoholic drink that is usually served to stimulate the appetite before a meal, contrasting with digestifs, which are served after meals.

Apéritifs are commonly served with something small to eat, such as crackers, cheese, pâté, olives, and various kinds of finger food.”

When my friend Pascal first arrived in the US we made dinner plans.  As a New Yorker, I recommended we meet directly at the restaurant.

But being very French Pascal said “Mais non, avant on vas faire l’apero a la maison!” (But no, before we will have the apero at my apartment!”).  I laughed and told him he was very French.

L’apero (the French love diminutives) is one of my favorite rituals in France and Italy (l’aperitivo – no diminutive), starting between 5pm and 6pm the apero is a way to end the day and start the evening.

It is a way to socialize with friends or acquaintances, without a commitment for dinner (although sometimes the little snacks become dinner) either at home, at a bar or cafe.   As noted by Wikipedia, the alcoholic drink is always served with something small to eat, chips, crackers, olives.  It is typically light and salty and wets your appetite for the dinner to come.

Serving the apero in France is an art, I don’t think there is a home in France with out a plateau (serving tray) and bag of chips or cacahouettes (peanuts) ready to be ripped open and placed in a bowl for an impromptu apero.

Upon arriving in Clermont I was invited to an apero… this made me very happy, because a real apero in New York is hard to come by.

So if you haven’t yet been invited to a French apero for a little enjoyment and escape, I hope this will inspire you to create your own (alcohol optional)!

Enjoy!!!

Leslie