On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:37:30 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:29:54 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 05 Feb 2014 02:52:27 -0600, Sqwertz wrote:
>>
>>
>>> The prices on the menu for "Starters" and "Appetizers" were all within
>>> $3 of each other.
>>>
>>> It was an honest question.
>>
>> In this part of the world we usually refer to a 3 course meal as having
>> a starter, a main and then dessert - but there's a couple I know who do
>> refer to a starter as an appetizer and they're actually quite snobby
>> i.e. they only eat at the most expensive restaurants/shop at the most
>> expensive stores, drive shockingly expensive cars - just to show off how
>> much money they have - which is why I found Marty's comment funny).
>>
>> But then again the word 'appetizer' rings another bell - think in some
>> parts of the world it might be an alternative term for a main course?
>> Dunno, just too lazy to google it right now.
>
>OK I looked at wiki.
>
>Appetizers are what we refer to here as "Hors d'oeuvre" or "Horse's
>doofers" as my Dad used to jokingly refer to them <g> IOW, 'finger food'
>that is generally served before one even gets to the dining table.

In the US Appetizers can be any small portion of food, typically
savory, considered an appetite whetter... hors d'oeuvres are something
else, they are rarely available at restaurants, those are typically
served at catered parties, and are served by someone who walks about
offering from a tray... I've never seen hors d'oeuvers served at table
in the US, they are served prior to the meal, before people sit at
table to eat, usually served while guests are mingling during the pre
dinner cocktail hour. In the US an appetizer can be a shrimp
cocktail, blintzes, stuffed 'shrooms, fried zuchinni sticks, garlic
bread, a fruit cup, half a dozen cherrystones on shelf bra, etc.