What is the Difference Between Appetizer and Entree

The main difference between appetizer and entree is that in the United States, an appetizer is a small dish of food served before the main meal to stimulate the appetite while entree is the main course of a meal.

In the United States and some parts of Canada, appetizer and entrée refer to two parts of a meal. However, in European countries, appetizer and entrée are synonyms and basically refer to a small dish of food or drink that comes before a meal or the main course of a meal to stimulate one’s appetite.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is an Appetizer 
     – Definition, Products
2. What is an Entree
     – Definition, Products
3. What is the Difference Between Appetizer and Entree
    – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Appetizer, Entree

What is an Appetizer

An appetizer is a small dish of food offered before a meal or the main course of a meal to stimulate one’s appetite. An appetizer can also be a drink or multiple drinks containing alcohol. For example, salads, soups, shrimp cocktail, calamari, olives, nuts, potato skins, mussels, bruschetta or cheese and crackers are some common appetizers. We also call them snacks, starters, or hors d’oeuvres.

Some restaurants serve very elegant appetizers. They may be served before seating – for example, at a reception or cocktail party, or maybe offered at the dinner table as a part of the meal. In general, appetizers are smaller than the main dish. They are often intended to be eaten by hand, with the minimal use of cutlery. Moreover, some appetizers are served cold while others are served hot.

What is an Entrée

In most countries, entrée is a dish served before the meal. In this sense, an entrée is the same as an appetizer, starter or hors d’oeuvres. However, in the United States and some parts of Canada, entrée refers to the main meal or the only dish of the meal.

Moreover, the word entrée has a French origin and refers to entrance or start. During the 16th century, the first dish at a formal dinner was brought to the table by a procession of liveried servants. This first course was named the entrée de table.” After the entrée/entrees came the soup, and after the soup, the roast, and after the roast, the final course. However, over the years, this order saw a gradual change. By 1930s, in the United States, the entree began to include fish and chicken dishes; this word gradually began to be used to refer to a substantial meal that came before desserts.

Similarities Between Appetizer and Entree

In most European countries, including the UK and France, snacks, starters, appetizers, entrees, and hors d’oeuvres are synonyms. They all refer to a light and small dish of food or drink we serve before the main meal to stimulate the appetite.

Difference Between Appetizer and Entree

In the US

An appetizer is a small dish that comes before the main meal to stimulate the appetite while entree is the main course of a meal.

In Other Countries

In most other countries, appetizer and entrée are synonyms and basically refer to a small dish of food or drink that comes before a meal or the main course of a meal to stimulate one’s appetite.

Conclusion

In the United States and some parts of Canada, there is a difference between appetizer and entrée as they refer to two parts of a meal. An appetizer is a small dish served before the main meal to stimulate the appetite while entree is the main course of a meal. However, in European countries, appetizer and entrée are synonyms.

Reference:

1. Maddox, Maeve. “What Is an ‘Entree’?” Daily Writing Tips, Available here.
2. “Hors D’oeuvre.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Nov. 2020, Available here.
3. “Entrée.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Nov. 2020, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1. “4184163” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “2484999” (CC0) via Pixabay