Finger Food, Canapés, Hors D'oeuvres. What’s the difference?

Some people may use the term hors d'oeuvres and canapé interchangeably, but a canapé is a type of hors d'oeuvre. In other words, all canapés are hors d'oeuvres, but not all hors d'oeuvres are canapés. Similarly, a canapé may also be referred to as finger food, although not all finger foods are canapés.

If you are planning on catering an event it is important to understand the difference especially as different caterers may use different terminology for the same thing.

In French a canapé is literally a sofa. When a chef created a new type of hors d'oeuvre by putting a savoury topping on a piece of bread or toast, the topping was thought to sit on the bread like a person sitting on a sofa, and so the snack came to be called a 'canapé. Canapés are generally more visually appealing than a lot of other finger food. Over time the word canapé evolved into a broader term for any small-sized finger foods served at catered parties.

You might be wondering what's the difference between hors d'oeuvres vs appetizers. While there is very little difference nowadays, technically appetizers are served as the first course (introduction to a meal), while hors d'oeuvres are served to whet an appetite (before the meal).

Canapé, Crudité, Sushi, Skewers and Meatballs are just some of the examples of the different types of hors d’oeuvres that may be on offer. These are all finger foods that are made to be held with one hand, so that you can hold a drink in your other hand and eaten in a single bite (or two at the most), to make it less messy.

So, the next time you enquire about a “Canapé Menu” for your event because you want to offer your guests a variety of small finger foods, be clear as to what type or style of finger food you would like to order and what the function is for. To one caterer the Canapé Menu is heard in the traditional sense of the word small, easy to eat food, made with a base of a small piece of bread or pastry with a variety of toppings, whereas another caterer may think more broadly as a ‘Finger Food Menu’, small one- or two-bite items that are served as an assortment on platters like sausage rolls, sushi, sandwiches, mini quiche and the like. This may result in each caterer giving different menus to choose from.