Simple bruschetta appetizer
Appetizers are designed to whet the appetite and are a taste of things to come at any good restaurant. Appetizers are usually savory, bite-sized dishes that are artistically put together and presented to diners before the main meal. Restaurants often have a selection of appetizers for customers from which to choose, with the most basic of appetizers being bread and dips.
Soup Shots
Soup shots are soups presented to diners in shot glasses---this enables them to taste a variety of soups without getting full, as often happens with a larger bowl of soup. Soup varieties include pumpkin, crème of mushroom, borscht, coconut crab or any soup variety that is not too lumpy, and is easily downed in one shot. Spicy soups should be avoided, as they irritate the throat when "shot."
Stuffed Mushrooms
Mix cream cheese with fresh rosemary, salt and pepper. Destem the mushrooms, filling the cavity with the cream cheese mixture. Coat the mushrooms in eggs, and then in salted breadcrumbs and medium fry. Serve hot for an explosion of melted cream cheese in the mouth.
Dill and Salmon Pikelets
Make a standard pikelet batter, omitting the sugar, and putting a pinch of salt and pepper and very finely chopped Spanish onion into the mix. Fry the pikelets as you would normally, and leave to cool. Mix cream cheese, salt and pepper with chopped up dill. Spread this mixture over the cool savory pikelets, topping with a rosette of smoked salmon and some chopped dill to garnish.
Avocado Boat Cocktail
Cut an avocado in half lengthwise, removing the seed. Place cooked and shelled prawns over the avocado, hanging over the edge. Fill the center of the avocado with Thousand Island dressing. Serve it with a spoon so that diners can eat the flesh of the avocado with the prawns.
Fried Wontons
Fried wontons can either be meat or vegetarian. Puree chicken/tofu with ginger, shallots and coriander. Spoon a dollop of this mixture into the center of each wanton wrapper, and pull the sides of the wanton wrapper up around the filling, pressing the seam together so that it looks like an upside down lollipop without a stick. Deep dry these wantons until they are golden in color. Serve them hot with a soy and mirrin dip.
Tags: cream cheese, salt pepper, avocado with, chopped dill, presented diners, this mixture
