Let’s talk about the famous Apéro…
To begin with, nobody does it better than the French.
Apéro, is the short for Apéritif and takes place around one hour or so before lunch or dinner. It really depends because sometimes it’s so much that you don’t need to eat afterwards!
I spent 3 years in France and every time I made plans with French people, the most important question was: Alors… a quelle heure pour l’apéro? (So… at what time do we meet for the apéro?). During summer 2017, I was living in Antibes and got to enjoy often the apéro with my host-mother. We would seat in her amazing terrace overlooking the Old Town, drinking Aperol Spritz and eating cheese with tapas. C’était magnifique!
The apéro is the chance to relax, unwind and make conversation before the meal starts, that’s why you are not supposed to have red wines or strong cocktails. Unlike happy hour, where working people go to bars to celebrate the end of the day, the apéro is the beginning of the night, because afterwards you would have dinner or go out.
Now I will show you how to apéro…
Choose your drink 🥂
In the South of France, a lot of people start the evening drinking Pastis (an anise-flavored spirit with 40-45% ABV depending on the brand) diluted in water or with fruit syrups.
Another apéro drink, one of my favorites, is the Kir which is a mix of dry white wine and syrup. A traditional Kir is made with Cassis liqueur, but peach and strawberry are great too. If you love bubbles as I do, you will love the Kir royale, similar to a normal Kir but with champagne.
Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten one of the most famous apéro drinks, drum rolls please 🥁 🥁 🥁…. The APEROL. Even thought it is an Italian aperitif, it is well known in France too. You can drink it in so many ways: on the rocks, with bubbles (Prosseco, Cava, etc.), with rhubarb or fresh citrus. I think I lost count of how many APEROL I drank through a hot summer at the French Riviera. I swear to you guys, I love it so much that I ordered a bottle (the most expensive of my life but so worth it) on Amazon Japan.
Last but not least, a glass or two of rosé or white wine are always a good idea for the apéro.
2. Choose your tapas, snacks, etc.
Personally, I find that cheese and cold meats are the perfect complement to the apéro, not only because I love them but because French cheeses are one of France’s famous gastronomic specialties. In Muroran, where I am currently living, it is hard to find the same cheeses and cold meats that I would get in France.
However, I still get to enjoy apéros with Hokkaido cheeses, which are very popular in Japan, and sometimes I find Brie 🤤 and more common varieties. To be fair, you can actually find French cheeses in Japan, but they are overpriced.
Mix and season cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper. It might sound very simple, but this truly makes a delicious snack.
Canned anchovies or sardines in olive oil are not my favorite but you must try them!
3. Choose your location
For me the most comfortable location to have the apèro is at home, but if you don’t feel like doing your own apéro, going to a bar is always a good idea. Bars usually offer cheese and cold meats platters and a larger apéro menu than a café where you can have a much simpler apéro, including a drink and pretzels.
During summer the best choice is to seat at a terrace or a park and enjoy the sun before winter comes.
4. Voilà…you are ready to ENJOY
The purpose of the apéro is to relax and have a good laugh with your family and friends.
SANTE ET BON APPETIT!