Always have a few slices of cooked or dried ham, pâté, sausage, etc. on hand in your refrigerator since the best parties are often the spur-of-the-moment ones.

Make the tapas a feast for both the eyes and the taste buds. Use a variety of presentations (dice, matchstick, chiffonade, etc.) to make the products attractive. Varying the thickness and the way the food is sliced can give a different taste to an ingredient.

Be attentive to recipes and presentation: the basic principle is to make the food simple yet elegant.

Let your imagination go wild: cold white bean soup with shaved dried ham served in a glass, rillettes or pâté on sautéed apple wedges, mini brochettes of rosemary and sesame chipolatas (little pork sausages), a small jar of Greek yogurt with bacon and cucumber… And don't neglect other less-common charcuterie specialties, since above all tapas should surprise!

To maintain the element of surprise over the course of the evening, take the tapas out of the fridge only as needed - this way everything stays fresh and cool as well.

Tapas for lovers, ladies' night out, a birthday, a children's party, a regional theme…. Any idea is possible: follow your whim! Choose a theme: exotic, a color, a season: these are just a few suggestions among many.

For lovers
For a romantic evening, tapas are the perfect way to travel the world: baguette slices topped with dried ham and tomato, olive oil and shaved cheese; cocktail sausages wrapped in puff, brick or phyllo pastry; or a few thin slices of chorizo with a little omelet.

Ladies' night out
Women love tapas parties - it doesn't require anyone to spend hours in the kitchen, you can sample everything since the portions are tiny, and by pairing meats with fruits and vegetables you have a balanced meal. Why not try some little puff pastries with dried ham, roasted tomatoes with chevre, or rillettes on endive leaves?

For children
There are even tapas for the younger ones, and children love their playful quality. Preparing a quick balanced dinner for your children is certainly possible: little ham roll-ups cooked with fresh cheese, mini slices of bacon loaf, tiny stuffed vegetables, dates with bacon, little brochettes of dried ham and pineapple. It's also a great opportunity to introduce them to foods they're not familiar with!

While the flavor and originality of the recipes are the main consideration, presentation is also very important. Here are a few tips:
Vary the containers: use small plates, bowls, glasses, skewers, Japanese-style spoons, saucers, etc. for originality and aesthetic appeal.

Have a number of buffet tables so that people can move from one to another.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 6 minutes

For 6 servings

• 12 mini frankfurters
• 12 slices of mini pâté in pastry
• 24 mini quiches
• 50 g (2 oz.) lean smoked bacon, cut into small cubes
• 3 nice stems of cherry tomatoes (about 12)
• Puff pastry
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp. fleur de sel (fine sea salt)

1. Place the stems of cherry tomatoes in a baking dish, sprinkle with the balsamic vinegar and fleur de sel.
2. Bake in a 210°C. (425°F.) for 20 minutes; halfway through the cooking time place the mini-quiches into the oven as well.
3. Remove the cherry tomatoes from their stems using scissors and place the cooked tomatoes on the slices of mini pâté in pastry.
4. Heat a non-stick skillet over high heat and add the bacon cubes; cook for a few minutes until nicely colored on all sides. Place a few cubes of bacon on each mini quiche.