Appetizers are usually the first taste of a meal, so if you want to keep your customer satisfied you should consider making the most of appetizers. You had better have a good selection, and they had better be delicious. Whether you are a restaurant or catering business owner, the appetizers you offer should be diverse in flavor and formality.

Appetizers can come in all shapes and sizes. Additionally, the objective of an appetizer varies. Appetizers can be simply a little something to keep the hunger pangs at bay, or they can be the first part of a meal. Whether you are purchasing appetizers from an appetizer maker or preparing them from scratch, remember the following:

1. Determine whether the function that you are catering is private or for a business. The latter may call for apps that are easy to eat while networking.

2. Confirm the level of formality of the event. Is it formal or casual? If the former, you want to make sure that passed apps are not likely to spill on formalwear and ruin clothing.

3. Are the appetizers for a sit down occasion, or will they be passed? Again the latter would call for choices that are easy to eat standing up.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose appetizer producers that meet your clients' needs and budget

Although your client will pick the menu of appetizers, you want to offer a wide selection while staying within a certain margin. Find suppliers that meet your rubric in regards to formality and budgets. Also make sure you can prepare each recipe well, and that the menu of recipes are accommodating to the type of function you are catering.

I recommend: Great American Appetizers features a selection of casual choices. RestaurantOperator.com provides a list of more appetizer manufacturers to choose from. If you wish to prepare your own appetizers from scratch, Rainy Days and Sundays offers an interesting array of appetizer ideas, some unique and some traditional.

Offer more variety and make a meal out of appetizers

Tapas originated in Spain and is basically a meal made up of appetizers. Since appetizers are so versatile, in many instances you can offer them in place of entrees and still satisfy your guests. This would be a ideal for clients who are expecting guests with diverse tastes.

I recommend: Easy Appetizer Recipes gives a history and other interesting information about tapas, and offers some traditional recipes. The Appetizer Store is an appetizer supplier that features a wide selection of appetizers that meet diverse tastes.

Serve gourmet appetizers that are tasty and appealing to the eye

Not only is the type of appetizer you choose significant to the type of function you're catering, but the way in which your dishes are presented is important. Guests must first be enticed; even if your recipes are delicious, they will not be eaten if they do not appeal to the eye.

I recommend: Squidoo offers party planning tools and appetizers information, including tips on serving your appetizers. ETabletop offers diverse information on food preparation, including appetizers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Offer a selection party appetizers for various tastes, but keep the menu within a certain genre or theme.
• •  Unless specifically requested by your client, avoid shellfish, oysters, certain mushrooms and spicy ingredients in your appetizers.

Appetizers make the bottom line profitable since they fill up your customer but do not cost as much to serve as a meal. Many customers purchase only an appetizer, drink and dessert, so make this important product a mainstay on your menu. Choose all time favorites, such as mozzarella cheese sticks, but also create at least one appetizer of your own so your customers come back for that unique product.

Serve healthy, good-tasting appetizers in your restaurant or store and give your customers a chance to eat healthy while enjoying their snack. Consider choosing at least one appetizer for people with health problems who still like to eat out occasionally. Look at the following when making decisions about which party appetizers to eat:

1. Choose gourmet appetizers for before-dinner treats.

2. Locate diet snack foods that taste great.

3. Use recipe information to create your own frozen appetizers.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select an appetizer supplier for general snacks

Keep a wide range of appetizers on your menu for diversity. People like to change and the restaurant with the most to offer wins the prize of patronage.

I recommend: Windsor Foods offers mozzarella sticks and breaded cheese cubes. Choose from spicy jalapeno or plain to spice up your menu. Wahoo Appetizers offers many classic appetizers including onion rings, stuffed jalapenos and twice-baked potatoes.

Find snack food appetizers distributors that sell great tasting diet snacks

Your restaurant menu should include a section on healthy choices appetizers. Be careful about using the word 'diet,' as your customers tend to think this word means it will not taste good. Instead, choose wording such as 'alternative food choices' or 'less calories - great taste.'

I recommend: Appetizers To Go sells veggie appetizers. Try their artichoke and spinach filo tartlet or their asparagus roll up. These tasty treats are good tasting and good for you. Feesers FoodService Distributor sells veggie appetizers including cauliflower and eggplant bites. Check out their entire list and choose one or more to enhance your menu.

Create your own appetizer maker recipes and keep your customers coming back

Dig out those recipes and make your own unique appetizer dishes. Your customers will flock to your restaurant to eat that one-of-a-kind dish that only you have. Find creative ideas for your appetizer business to use in lieu of your own recipes, but make them unique by changing an ingredient or two.

I recommend: Betty Crocker offers many appetizer recipe ideas from cheese appetizers to pizza puffs. Look over the recipe then use your own creative ideas to make it uniquely yours. Eat Better America offers a variety of appetizer recipe ideas. Choose the ones that appeal to your customers, give it a twist and serve it up.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you do use appetizer producers online recipes exactly as they appear, be sure to give credit on your menu to the creator of the recipe.

Keeping tabs on the ever-changing food industry can be a challenging one, and the appetizer business is no different. What could be popular one day might not be selling well the next. It's imperative to stay current with any changes not only to the industry but to the palate of the public.

Knowing where to research to find what is popular in the appetizer maker industry can be difficult. It's hard to know what sources to trust and which ones to ignore. Consider the following when researching snack food appetizers news and trends:

1. Look through blogs or forums to learn about appetizer production companies.

2. Research food periodicals about changes to the appetizers industry.

3. Check with associations to learn about appetizer maker trends.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Search online for information regarding appetizers

Blogs and forums are an ideal way to learn about the appetizer business. Although the people who post on these sites might not be actual members of the food business, it does not mean their opinions don't matter. In fact, oftentimes the general public is a great way to learn about what works and what doesn't.

I recommend: Check out the Well Fed Network blog and its links to other food-laden blogs. Peruse the list to find information about frozen food appetizers and other culinary trends. Look at FoodNavigator.com and its links to changes in the food industry. At the bottom of the site, you can sign up for a free newsletter based solely on baking and snacks.

Check popular food magazines for news about the appetizer supplier market

Food-based magazines offer those in the industry a firsthand glance at the appetizer market. Are there certain foods that are selling better? Is there a new brand entering the marketplace? These are some of the questions insiders can learn about while researching these periodicals.

I recommend: Kraft Foods offers information about appetizer trends and its appeal. Search the site to get tips on any current snack changes. Read through articles at Restaurants & Institutions, where you can find news about gourmet appetizers and their suppliers and producers.

Look to food associations to provide information about appetizer producers

Associations are an excellent way to stay connected to the food industry. Not only are there members who share your love for frozen appetizers, but the associations also host conferences where you can network with others and become privy to information before the general public.

I recommend: The Snack Food Association represents more than 400 companies worldwide. Become a member and have access to news about appetizers and other snack foods. The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade is a business trade association that works with numerous members of the food industry. Look to its news and information section to find articles about appetizer manufacturers.