Hors d'Oeuvres

Finger foods, starters, appetizers, hors d'oeuvres: call them what you will, but in the days leading up to yet another New Year's Eve celebration, they've been the talk of every media outlet food section. In reading them all and planning my own Saturday festivities, I've come to wonder: is there a difference between appetizers and hors d'oeuvres?

Although both are meant to foster an appetite and they're listed as the same thing in Wikipedia, there is a subtle difference between the two courses. The French term hors d'œuvre (pronounced "or-derves"), which literally means "out of work" but translates to "outside the meal," is a one-bite item that's either stationary or passed and served separate from or prior to a meal.

This means an hors d'oeuvre is typically finger food and might refer to, among other items, canapés, crudités, deviled eggs, and bruschetta. Appetizers, on the other hand, appear as the first courses when seated at the table. They're often slightly larger and composed in a way that complements the entrée and dessert courses to follow. Which do you prefer — or is it all the same to you?

I just returned from the islands of Hawaii, where the proliferation of just-caught seafood is enjoyed in a bevy of raw fish preparations, from ceviche to poke. Although it's available stateside, I've longed for the chance to enjoy glistening cubes of crudo for a reasonable price at just about every meal.

For a little taste of what I've been missing, I created these soy-glazed rice crackers topped with luscious ruby jewels of tuna tartare. Unlike the standard caper-and-lemon tartare mix, this version is Asian-inspired, but lacks the traditional soy sauce that characterizes a Hawaiian poke. That's where the Japanese rice cracker base, which gives the fish a textural contrast, comes in! Want the fast, easy, healthy recipe for your next party? Then read more.

Are you staying in this New Year's Eve? If you're one of the many throwing an intimate gathering or attending a house party, consider counting down the clock with elegant salmon-topped potato bites.

Smoked salmon, cream, and grated potato pancakes are a classic pairing — but on a busy night like New Year's Eve, skip the labor-intensive task of grating potatoes and halve them instead. If you prefer a pared-down flavor profile, top potatoes with a simple combination of salmon, fennel, lemon, and sour cream.

For a blowout appetizer, up the sophistication factor by stuffing delicate fingerlings with a home-preserved lemon topping, crème fraîche, and indulgent — but sustainable — American caviar. See both options when you read on.