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Catering Passed and Displayed Appetizers/ Hors d'oeuvres/ Finger Foods

Designed Thoughtfully. Crafted Lovingly. Presented Beautifully.®

Catering Passed and Displayed Appetizers/ Hors d'oeuvres/ Finger Foods

Designed Thoughtfully. Crafted Lovingly. Presented Beautifully.®

Recommended Appetizers/ Hors d'oeuvres Menus

Gourmet Appetizer/ Hors d'Oeuvres Catering in a Wide Range of Themes and Formats

Bite Catering Couture was founded on our signature appetizer/ bite menus. We love the concept of combining the many different flavors and prominent tastes that come with great appetizers (and desserts). Our menus focused on Appetizers and Hors d'oeuvres can be used for cocktail parties, the start of a meal, or extended into a tasting menu that can become the meal itself!

We offer a wide range of themed menus. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for on this page, please feel free to use the search bar or reach out for help. We'd love to guide you to the best appetizers for your catered event!

Having a smaller event or looking for a delivery of beautiful platters and appetizers? Please see our a la carte options below which are designed to deliver!

Our Approach to Appetizers/ Hors d'oeuvres at Catered Events

Our approach to catering appetizer menus is that each one should make its presence felt. This is not an entree that stays in front of you for an extended period. Every individual piece gets only a moment to catch your attention with its presentation and a bite or two to convey its texture, flavor, and essence.

With a passed service, we also believe that moment of engagement should not be artificially extended. We recommend staffing ratios with bussing that allows for the quick handoff (directly to a server or to a discreetly placed bussing tray) of any toothpicks, napkins, spoons, shot glasses. or other elements used in presenting or serving the food. This allows the guest (our avatar is an elegant model in a black dress with a glass of bubbly in her hand) to quickly sample another morsel or greet someone in conversation without trying to figure out why they are still holding a toothpick (or worse, a shrimp tail).

With more of a display, it's important to think about the guest experience through the entirety of the event, rather than just the beginning. We recommend more food for a displayed station, as people will tend to take more. Many caterers can put together something that looks nice at the beginning of the event, before anyone has touched it. The experience once the event starts, however, is what people will remember. A display should feel fairly full, so replenishment or consolidating it as food shrinks is important. Ensuring tongs, knives, spoons, etc are easy to use and have a nice resting space (and backups in case of drops or people walking away) keeps utensils in good shape and fingers out of the display. The type and size of napkin or plate can be the difference between people trying one or two vs. loading plates that you later find mostly set aside or in the trash.

While ordering appetizers, it's often important to get a mix of different flavors and ingredients to make sure you've got something all of your guests can enjoy. We also recommend figuring out the pacing of food amounts for your event. For Passed apps, we generally recommend ~3-4 bites/hr and a bit more for stationary displays.

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Recommended Menus

Comfort Food Bites
Everybody's favorite - classic comfort food favorites presented in the perfect bite-sized presentation!

Download PDF: Comfort Food Bites

Comfort Food Bites
Full_Service Bites
Our most elevated menu ideas are available with full chef service.

Download PDF: Full_Service Bites

Full_Service Bites
Indian Inspired Bites
We had fun taking a tapas or grazing approach to Indian classics - turning some of our favorite and most exciting flavors into perfect cocktail fare!

Download PDF: Indian Inspired Bites

Indian Inspired Bites
Fresh & Bright - California Chic!
It says wedding but this menu makes the round to all manner of cocktail-style parties!

Download PDF: Fresh & Bright - California Chic!

Fresh & Bright - California Chic!
A La Carte Hot Hors D'Oeuvres - Available for Delivery
Our hot hors d'oeuvres which are perfect if you are looking for a delivery approach

Download PDF: A La Carte Hot Hors D'Oeuvres - Available for Delivery

A La Carte Hot Hors D'Oeuvres - Available for Delivery
A La Carte Room Temperature Hors D'Oeuvres - Available for Delivery
Our room temperature hors d'oeuvres which are perfect if you are looking for a delivery approach (no heating required)

Download PDF: A La Carte Room Temperature Hors D'Oeuvres - Available for Delivery

A La Carte Room Temperature Hors D'Oeuvres - Available for Delivery
Related Menus

Example Appetizers/ Hors d'oeuvres Events

Display of Bites

Poker Party display

We put together a beautiful display for a poker party. As seen, we focused on bite sized foods that could be eaten quickly and without much of a me...
(click on card to open in new window, or click title to open in same window)

How About Catering Finger Foods?

Finger foods are a subset of appetizers and hors d'oeuvres that are generally a bit more casual and can be eaten directly with the hands. These work for many of our most popular items including our tea sandwiches, sausage rolls, fry cones, mini tacos, mini burgers/ sliders and more! Generally people ask about finger foods in combination with either comfort food or kids party food and we have a lot of items that are both fun and filling from that angle!

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Appetizers/ Hors d'oeuvres Photos & Ideas

Ahi Tuna in wonton cone

Ahi Tuna in wonton cone

Organic Market Experience

Organic Market Experience

Mini fish taco served on fresh lime

Mini fish taco served on fresh lime

mini soft pretzel bites

mini soft pretzel bites

mini loaded nacho bite

mini loaded nacho bite

chocolate “cigars”

chocolate “cigars”

loaded potato croquette

loaded potato croquette

mini lemon cream pie

mini lemon cream pie

Italian Antipasto

Italian Antipasto

chicken parmesan slider

chicken parmesan slider

Assorted French Macaron

Assorted French Macaron

mini s’mores bites

mini s’mores bites

Mini Lobster Rolls

Mini Lobster Rolls

deviled quail’s egg

deviled quail’s egg

Hor d'oeuvres display

Hor d'oeuvres display

mini caesar salad

mini caesar salad

Smoked Salmon Rose on Blini

Smoked Salmon Rose on Blini

Wagyu Steak House Bites on Spoons and Metal Tray

Wagyu Steak House Bites on Spoons and Metal Tray

Antipasto display at the Paramour Estate

Antipasto display at the Paramour Estate

chicken marsala bite

chicken marsala bite

steak and eggs - steak tartare

steak and eggs - steak tartare

Chilled english pea soup with cucumber boursin canape

Chilled english pea soup with cucumber boursin canape

Beet Chip Salad

Beet Chip Salad

Smoked Salmon Potato Crisp

Smoked Salmon Potato Crisp

caramelized grapefruit with crab and avocado salad

caramelized grapefruit with crab and avocado salad

Mini Autumn Salad

Mini Autumn Salad

Stationary hors d'oeuvres on contemporary display

Stationary hors d'oeuvres on contemporary display

miso-glazed wild salmon bite

miso-glazed wild salmon bite

blt canapés

blt canapés

savory madeleine with caviar

savory madeleine with caviar

Watermelon Salad Cube

Watermelon Salad Cube

scallops with caviar

scallops with caviar

mini duck confit quesadilla

mini duck confit quesadilla

mushroom and truffle arancini

mushroom and truffle arancini

ahi tuna poke taco

ahi tuna poke taco

peas, peas, peas herbed goat cheese tart

peas, peas, peas herbed goat cheese tart

Cornbread canape with zesty chicken guacamole

Cornbread canape with zesty chicken guacamole

Potato gaufrette with caviar

Potato gaufrette with caviar

vietnamese summer rolls

vietnamese summer rolls

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FAQs

You might guess from a company named Bite that our appetizers and hors d'oeuvres are going to lean toward bite-sized. As a default, our client avatar is an elegant lady in a beautiful dress who maybe holding a drink in one hand who will want to be able to take a passed bite and be able to consume it in 1-2 bites without any mess or interruption in the conversation. That said, the essence of some of our appetizers and small plates will lead us toward something bigger...nachos perhaps!

For people planning an event, the important element tends to be a "meal equivalent". A happy hour is less, a tasting menu for a dinner would be more. We generally calibrate 13-15 bites as a meal equivalent, so our sales team will help you curate a menu that should provide the target amount of food for your event and guests!

Custom-themed Bites are one of our specialties! We love to be creative and make something that fits a theme, color, story, or other special element. Please ask about requirements and minimums.

The terms "appetizers," "hors d'oeuvres," and "finger foods" often overlap but have some subtle differences:

  1. Hors d'oeuvres: This French term translates to "outside of the work" or "apart from the main meal," and refers to small, savory bites typically served before dinner, usually at a cocktail hour or during a reception where guests might not necessarily be seated. They are elegant and designed to be eaten in one or two bites, often presented on trays by servers or placed on a display.
  2. Canapes: Small pieces of bread, crackers, or croutons with various things on top are another category of food served before a meal.
  3. Appetizers: These are eaten before a meal - literally food eaten to pique the appetite. Appetizers are also a popular option to serve with a drink to quell the hunger that can emerge with a beverage.
  4. Finger Foods: This is a more casual term that encompasses any small food items meant to be eaten directly with the hands, without the need for utensils. Finger foods can be served as both hors d'oeuvres or appetizers depending on the setting. They are ideal for informal gatherings or parties. These may include things like sliders, tea sandwiches, empanadas


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