Appetizers are foods that are consumed before the main meal.
The etymology of aperitif takes us to the late Latin aperitīvus , which refers to that which shows a tendency to open. This word, in turn, derives from aperīre (translatable, precisely, as "to open" ).
As an adjective , appetizer qualifies the product that is used to whet the appetite (the desire or desire to eat). In any case, its use as a noun is more common, referring to the food and drink that are eaten before the main course .
The appetizer as a snack
An aperitif can be considered a snack or snack that is consumed before lunch or dinner. Its characteristics depend on each region since they are associated with customs and cultural issues.
Although in some countries appetizers are usually consumed daily, in others they are only eaten on holidays or on certain dates. These are usually small portions of food that are enjoyed while preparing or waiting for the main meal.
Tapas , pinchos , montaditos , canapés , sandwiches and snacks are some of the most common appetizers. Sausages , cheeses and cold cuts are also part of this set.
Options depending on region
In Spain , for example, appetizers are a classic. Tapas or skewers of potato tortilla ( tortilla de patatas ), patatas bravas ( patas bravas ), anchovies in vinegar , and fried calamari are very popular appetizers.
Mexican food, meanwhile, usually includes snacks known as nachos as an appetizer. These corn tortilla fragments are fried and served with melted cheese. Another possibility is to accompany the nachos with guacamole.
If we focus on Argentina , the most famous appetizer is the picado . It is made up of numerous small-sized containers or plates with salami ( salami ), ham , mortadella , olives , cheese and peanuts ( cacahuetes ), to name a few possibilities.
Aperitif is also the name given to the drink that accompanies this type of food.
Drinks considered aperitifs
As we already indicated at the beginning of this article, the concept of appetizer can name the drink that accompanies this type of food. Generally the aperitif is an alcoholic drink that is served very cold.
Vermouth or vermouth is among the most common aperitifs. This wine-based liquor is prepared with various bitter ingredients, such as wormwood (in fact, the term vermouth comes from the German Wermut , which refers to this plant).
Many vermouths are known by their brand name . We can name Cinzano , which is sold in three versions: white vermouth ( Cinzano Bianco ), red vermouth ( Cinzano Rosso ) and dry vermouth ( Cinzano Extra Dry ). Gancia and Campari are other recognized aperitifs.
The concept in medicine
It is interesting to mention that, some time ago, the notion of aperitif was used in the field of medicine . This is what was called what was used to treat blockages , which allowed the reopening of the ducts that run through the fluids.
In this framework, certain liquors made with herbs were also considered to be digestive. It was believed that these drinks had gastrointestinal properties, something that is currently a source of debate and which many doctors question.