You’ll find several posts about apéritifs here at Return to The Table — and yet, here is another morsel to try. Just like a good apéritif!
In the post Easy Family Dinner Apéritif Style, I share the idea of turning an apéritif into dinner by pulling together a few small plates to create a fabulous — and easy — family meal. This kind of unfussy, small-plate dinner is what the French call an apéritif dînatoire … simply an apéritif that’s balanced and enough to serve as dinner. Think of it as satisfying snacks, elevated into a meal.
With summer on the horizon, now is the perfect time to remember this simple (and fun) dinner idea with a few new twists.
As I write this, it’s the end of spring — a busy time of year, filled with end-of-the-school-year activities and kids’ sports schedules shifting into high gear. This dinner idea can help you keep the rhythm of family dinners rolling along without relying on packaged foods or a quick carry-out.
It’s a fabulous time of year too! Bring your apéritif dinner outside to make it more fun and festive, and add a few treats to celebrate summer on the way.
When you're short on time to cook or don't have a plan for dinner, instead of grabbing a bite out, start by opening the fridge and see what you find.
Do you have …
Some veggies — carrots, cucumbers, endives, cherry tomatoes?
A few leftovers — even if only enough for one or two? We'll make them stretch. See how in a moment.
What other tasty tidbits? Cheese, charcuterie, olives, or chips?
(Yes, let's serve a few chips! It can be healthy.)
Next, take a peek in the pantry … what else do you have?
Some crackers, nuts, dried fruit?
Let's bring everything together, stretch those leftovers to serve four (how-to’s in a minute!), add a little "dessert," and make a fabulous dinner in minutes.
Here are some ideas to highlight what you can do with what you have on hand.
Something simple can be divine, like cherry tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. Or cucumber rounds with Boursin cheese.
Maybe some melon and prosciutto — or just melon!
Get creative and try a new combination like grapes and Gouda — it’s good.
Did you find one piece of quiche, a crêpe, or some chicken? Warm the quiche and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Cut the chicken into pieces and toast some bread to make a few bruschettas. That's how Terrie made a memorable dinner with her daughter ...
Terrie told me she was having a busy day, and only one of her daughters was home for dinner. She admitted to having the occasional “bowl of cereal dinner,” and she was tempted to do it that evening. But she told me she heard my voice in her head and instead decided to figure out dinner for two. She and her daughter worked side by side and made something for dinner by pulling a few things together. She said they not only enjoyed a delicious homemade meal, but they had one of the best conversations ever. That’s the best part!
Do you have any leftover sauce, like pesto? Serve it as a dip for carrots, or spread some on sliced cucumbers or your bruschetta.
Anything can go on bruschetta.
What else?
A few endives turn into a tasty bite. I love endive with bleu cheese and walnuts so much, I could make it my main dish.
Cheese and crackers or cheese and bread — the French way.
Dried sausage, charcuterie, or pâté is handy for dinners like this. They let you offer a meat option, and there’s nothing to cook!
Savory bread made with cheese and bacon (they’re great to keep sliced in the freezer).
Any other dips or spreads on hand? Add a dollop on cubes of bread — et viola, et yum!
Make the kids a smoothie with fresh fruits of the season — can someone whip this up while you pull together the rest?
Do you have a few olives and nuts? Bring them out — several small nibbles add up to create a simple yet satisfying meal!
Include some dessert — it's just the third course in a meal, and it can be healthy.
Think of fresh fruit — as it is or dressed up with fresh herbs, orange water, or wine. It takes just a few minutes to prepare.
A piece of leftover cake to share, a cookie, or ice cream — dinner should be fun, after all!
As for the chips, serve them in a small bowl, and pass them around. Everyone gets just a few, and that's enough.
You can make an apéritif dînatoire that doesn't require any cooking — maybe merely toasting some bread or making a quick fruit salad is all the “work” you have to do. It's so fun to see what you can make in minutes with a few fresh ingredients. You may start out thinking there's nothing for dinner and then end up with more than you need!
Making a fabulous dinner is easy when you remember to save your leftovers — even if a little bit is all that’s left.
If you've read some of my other pieces, you know I promote eating in courses. You can still serve your apéritif dinner in courses, but it’s also fun to place all the small plates on the table at once and let everyone choose what they want — then bring out a little dessert after if you like.
Dining outside also adds a festive touch. Bring everyone together at an outdoor table or seating area and pass the plates. When you serve a family dinner apéritif style, you can turn a simple, last-minute meal into something remarkable.
Summer is a fun and festive time to practice making your apéritif dinners — relax, eat slowly, and be together.
This style of serving also makes it easier for fussy eaters to try something new. They can try a little nibble between their favorite bites. If they don’t care for it now, no pressure — just move on to the next thing. And with so many fresh summer flavors, you never know what they might end up liking by the end of the season.
With the family dinner apéritif idea, you won't worry about what's for dinner, you’ll just wonder why you don't do this more often! Practice your apéritifs this summer, get creative with what you have on hand, and you’ll be ready for fall, when you need a quick dinner idea — the menu will just naturally change with the season!
Coming soon is the entertaining dînatoire — doesn’t that sound elegant? Well, it couldn’t be a simpler way to entertain, so I’ll serve that up in July. Then we'll end summer with another family apéritif to toast the new season!
If you need help with any ideas, just write to me. Enjoy your summer family apéritif dînatoires!
Bon appétit, apéritif style!
