Vegetarian Avocado & Mango Salad Tortilla Cups January 12, 2026January 12, 2026 Warm-weather Appetiser: When you are the one hosting & you’re craving something fun and fresh with summery vibes, this little warm-weather appetiser might be one perfect option for you. It’s packed with bright flavours, looks gorgeous on a platter, and genuinely takes the pressure off when it is only you in the kitchen. Summer entertaining can feel a bit same-same– the grazing board comes out, someone brings chips, someone else brings dip, and before you know it, the table looks exactly like the last ten events. So why not shake things up with something that still feels easy, but also feels… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Dried Apricots & Raspberry Feta November 29, 2025November 29, 2025 Garden Party Appetiser: Why Middle Eastern Apricots Make the Ultimate Garden Party Appetiser? Well for starters, when it comes to elevating a simple dried fruit and cheese platter, not all apricots are created equal. Middle Eastern apricots add a whole lot more luxury to fruit & cheese platters than their local Australian counterparts. Their flavour, texture, and sheer presence on the plate bring an entirely different level of indulgence. Middle Eastern apricots are naturally sizeable, plump, juicy, and beautifully vibrant, offering a richer sweetness and softer bite. Their generous size also makes them incredibly versatile- large enough to confidently carry savoury… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Potato Rosti With Zesty Tomato Salsa October 6, 2025October 11, 2025 Fresh & Zesty Finger Food: I’ve always loved using potatoes as a base for fresh & zesty finger food as well as heartier bites, since potato is a popular ingredient for party snacks, & rosti are just perfect for that. A little different to latke, which typically use a binder (egg and flour) & similar to the hash brown, rosti is made with grated potato, butter (or a fat), lightly seasoned, and baked until the edges get that slightly caramelised crunch, making these crispy appetiser bites irresistible. Shape them into little nests for edible vessels that are fillable with almost… Continue Reading
Meat Blinis With Goat Cheese & Pear September 29, 2025October 6, 2025 Sweet & Savoury Canapés: I have used this combination of ingredients many times when wanting to showcase both sweet & savoury canapés. The blini itself is a soft, spongy little pillow, a mini pancake if you like & the perfect canapé base that supports everything piled on top without competing for attention. Goat cheese, prosciutto, pear, honey & walnuts have long been a winning combination, with so many ways you can present them…on a crostini, in the pear itself, baked, fresh, in witlof leaves, rolled in a crepe or on a blini to name a few. For these sweet &… Continue Reading
Seafood Crumbed Saganaki & Red Pepper Sauce September 1, 2025September 1, 2025 Greek Cheese Appetiser: There is nothing nicer than grilled or pan-fried cheese fullstop but, in this Greek cheese appetiser, that golden, sizzling, salty bite that instantly makes it irresistible & for a cheese fiend like myself, it is going to grab attention. And if you really want to take the grilled cheese experience up a notch, Greek crumbed Saganaki is the way to do it. Saganaki, if you haven’t tried it before, is a Greek cheese appetiser, made from a semi-hard cheese (often kefalograviera or kasseri), that holds its shape beautifully when pan-fried. Similar to Haloumi, in fact, Haloumi is… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Chilli Parmesan Potato Bites August 10, 2025August 10, 2025 Memorable Appetisers- For The Love Of Potato: Memorable appetisers don’t necessarily need fancy ingredients, nor be boring and predictable…the good old potato can shine with the best of them. Let’s be honest- potato is always a good idea. Mashed, boiled, roasted, scalloped, fried…whatever the format, it sings to my heart every single time. But, and there is a but, potatoes aren’t the most healthy of vegetables, so even though I love them, I don’t often eat them to be honest. As an appetiser ingredient however? Well, the world is your oyster. So many options here for topping and they are… Continue Reading
Vegan Eggplant Dahl Roll-ups August 4, 2025August 4, 2025 Plant-based Appetiser: Eggplant roll-ups are a plant-based appetiser I’ve been making for a long time, and they never seem to go out of style. Over the years, I’ve experimented with all kinds of fillings- from creamy cheeses like Feta with pesto, to curried lentils (dahl) – and they’ve all had their moment. But more recently, I’ve been leaning into the heartier and more fragrant & vegan: red lentils simmered with spices, aromatics, and a splash of coconut cream. In these vegan roll-ups, eggplant slices act like edible ribbons- soft and pliable once grilled or roasted, they’re the perfect base for… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Chilli Rice Crackers With Avocado & Finger Lime Caviar July 28, 2025July 28, 2025 One Bite Appetisers: Entertaining doesn’t have to be bigger than Ben Hur, in fact, some of the most enjoyable get-togethers I’ve hosted have been the most relaxed- no extravagant spreads, no marathon cooking sessions, just a few one bite snacks, good wine, and people I enjoy being around. That being said though, I do so enjoy going that extra mile and being the hostess with the mostess But the truth is, you don’t need to go over the top to impress. Often, it’s the simple one bite appetisers, done with a little care and attention, that make guests feel like… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Mini Toasts & Green Bean Pesto July 19, 2025July 20, 2025 Bite-size Beans on Toast: For the purpose of no-fuss canapés, practically any vegetable can be turned into a pesto and beans are no exception. If you’ve never tried a bean-based pesto, this might just be your nudge. It’s textured, packed with protein, and green is one of those colours that make food look appetising & fresh. Pestos are high on my list for easy canapés catering especially for a crowd & especially when you are serving multiple items. Of course the simplicity is exceedingly appealing: toss your ingredients into a processor, blend until combined & a thick paste, and you’re… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Radicchio, Goat Cheese & Caramelised Pear July 14, 2025July 20, 2025 Italian Chicory Appetiser: If you’re looking for colourful bites that turn heads and awaken the tastebuds, this little number with radicchio, whipped goat cheese, and caramelised pear might be your next beloved flavour combo! Radicchio is known for its bold, bitter, slightly spicy edge that can make it a bit of a love-it-or-leave-it ingredient. But when you bring in the right partners in crime- think something creamy, something briny or acidic- it suddenly softens, mellows out, and becomes this beautiful base for flavour layering. That’s exactly what’s going on here with this bitter sweet appetiser. Since Witlof is almost impossible… Continue Reading
Vegetarian Leek & Gruyère Tartlets June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 Comfort Pastry Appetiser: There’s something quietly delish about a tartlet when looking to include a comfort pastry appetiser to your party spread. Especially one that leans into buttery pastry, creamy, oniony leeks, and the unmistakable nuttiness of Gruyère cheese. These Leek & Gruyère Tartlets are deceptively simple to make, but deliver big on flavour- making them perfect for parties, picnics, or even a relaxed weekend lunch. When you have rich ingredients like pastry, butter and mascarpone, adding a cheese with a little sharpness can balance things out nicely & help cut through that richness. A Classic Combination, Miniaturised Leek and Gruyère is… Continue Reading
Seafood Pumpernickel With Creamy Avocado June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 Bite-size Dining: When it comes to bite-size dining, avocado is my go-to for appetisers that strike the perfect balance between ease and elegance. This creamy, mild fruit has a way of slipping seamlessly into just about any savoury situation. Whether it’s smashed onto toast, nestled into tacos, layered in a salad, or, in this case, transformed into the most beautiful, crowd-pleasing canapé topping. Avocado is versatile, essentially available year-round, and full of possibilities. It’s that one ingredient you can always count on to make something feel fresh, modern, and satisfying– without having to try too hard. And the best part?… Continue Reading