A Guide to Canapés

Whether it’s for your wedding breakfast, new product launch or birthday bash in the garden don’t underestimate the humble canapé.

More often than not, people cringe at the very thought of canapés – picturing sticks crammed with pineapple and cheese, and the 70s finest vol-au-vents filled with room temperature salmon substitute.

At Samuel James Events, we do canapés a little differently.

Our canapés are imaginative and truly scrumptious – served in style with no foil hedgehogs in sight. Whether we serve them on glass, olive boards, slates, mirrors or porcelain platters – our canapés will add a certain je ne sai quoi to any event.

Here are some of our favourites:

‘Devilled’ Smoked Trout

Pork Rillette on Melba Toast, topped with Apple Jelly

Wasabi Tuna and Teriyaki-Soused Shallot

“Bloody Mary” Shot of Tomato Soup

Butternut Squash Risotto and Walnut Crumble

Slow Cooked Beef and Sweet Carrot Purée

Curried Haddock Croquette with Saffron Béarnaise

And for something a little sweet, what about:

Mini Layered Peach Melba

Iced Pistachio Parfait with Blood Orange

Shots of Lemon Posset

Or, maybe even a breakfast canapé:

Egg and Bacon Kedgeree

Hash Brown, Black Pudding and Apple

Golden “Rice Krispies”

See? The day of the tired vol-au-vent has been and gone – the new generation of canapés is here!

Canapé Trivia:

The English translation of the French word ‘canapé’ is “couch” – a nod to the fact that pieces of toast topped with tasty treats, look a little bit like sofas. It’s a stretch, admittedly, but the term stuck.

Traditionally, when bars served canapés, they tended to be generously salted or spiced – nudging customers to buy more drinks than they might have done otherwise.