As you may guess, the term amuse-bouche originated in France and literally translates as ‘amuses the mouth’. It’s the term given to bite-size, delicious canapes, typically served before a meal to take the edge off guests’ hunger. Amuse-bouches first became popular in France in the 1970s, during the nouvelle cuisine movement. This was a time of great gastronomic excitement in France – dishes used copious amounts of natural produce, and flavours were punchy and rich, with chefs across France constantly trying to outdo one another with flamboyant, delicious dishes.
Amuse-bouches are presented beautifully, with care given to the appearance and garnish.
Where are amuse-bouches served today?
It’s common to be offered an amuse-bouche at a wedding or formal gathering. It’s also common to be offered an amuse-bouche before your meal if you’re lucky enough to visit a Michelin-starred restaurant. It’s a way for diners to experience flavours they might not ordinarily choose since, interestingly, amuse-bouches are offered by chefs as a way of demonstrating the sorts of things they specialise in cooking, and tend to be offered on a complimentary basis.
That being said, there’s no need to wait until you’re at a formal occasion to enjoy an amuse-bouche. You could make some delightful, tasty canapes out of everyday foods, with a little extra care according to BBC’s Hairy Bikers – consider tiny bowls of delicious soup served with crunchy croutons, or tiny puff pastry squares with a dash of piccalilli and salmon.
If you’re feeling inspired by all this talk of tasty bites to eat, you can always treat yourself or your staff to delicious office lunches, courtesy of a lunchtime delivery service such as crumbsdelivered.co.uk/shop/office-lunch-delivery.
What are some typical amuse-bouche flavours?
Typically savoury, amuse-bouches often feature a pastry or bread base with a topping of a rich but tasty protein such as fish, cured meat or pate. You may also see salad vegetables included, such as avocado or peppers. Amuse-bouches often pack a strong flavour with ingredients such as hummus, strong cheeses or even caviar featured.
