Fanatical for Finger Food

Posted by admin as Gold Bar

Finger food is the latest lifestyle thing. Anything goes, but in dainty-sized portions; food is sophisticated but nibbled strictly without cutlery. This sums up the success of a phenomenon that is winning over gourmets and great chefs, editors and designers, TV and Hollywood stars and A-listers.

Mini materpieces for the palate are served up to a growing public which moves nonchalantly from quiches and pasta to vegetables and sweets, then back again to tartlets. Hors d’oeuvres, first courses, second courses, side dishes and desserts no longer exist in the tastebud-tantalizing world of appetizers. Every food is perfect for creating exquisite titbits to be served in unrestrained freedom. Nibbles have become an art form, an indulgence which it seems no-one is able to do without.

Is this the dawn of a new gastronomic culture based on petite portions and picture-perfect presentation? Perhaps. There are certainly plenty of courses for learning how to prepare the perfect aperitif. Many people resort to recipe books, especially those released by top international chefs, like Heinz Beck who, with his culinary creations, amazes both his restaurant guests and his avid readers. From the printed page to the kitchen: Padua recently hosted the first edition of the Italian finger food championships. Italy’s top chefs flocked to the city in the northern region of Veneto, and worked nimble-fingered to present their own original ideas for tasty, balanced snacks.

Designers too have been won over by the finger food fashio, making it even more cool with brand new drinks served in custom-designed cocktail glasses. Designer Karim Rashid presented his Kartini Sapphire at the D&G Gold Bar during the Salone del Mobile fair. Keeping Rashid and his designer aperitif company, were other creatives like Konstantin Grcic, Tom Dixon and Marcel Wanders. Another celebrity on the list was the regular gossip-column subject and ex-wife of Marilyn Manson, Dita von Teese. The burlesque dance queen actually invented a drink of her own made with violet, her favourite flower, and served it at the Cannes Film Festival.

Major companies are also much taken by the happy hour craze, launching products and accessories for unforgettable parties: there are cups, plates, shakers, “pocket” cutlery and much more besides. For autumn 2008 Bormioli Rocco (http://www.bormioliroccoprofessional.com) launched Amuse Bouche, a collection of glassware and stemware in different shapes and sizes designed to enhance the latest trend in eating and conviviality. What’s more, every pack contains a collection of recipes with ideas and tips from top chefs on how to prepare mouthwatering nibbles. 
Yes, that’s right, everyone just loves the finger food fashion.

simona bonati
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