You probably have heard about Apéro, but do you know what it is exactly?Apéro is a pillar in French culture. It is a drink, a time of the day and a type of meal. The word is short for “apéritif ” and comes from the Latin “aperire” which means “to open”. It started as a drink to “open” your appetite. Later, Apéro hasbecome the time before a meal, when you enjoy a drink, complete with some amuse-bouches. Now, you can see why the French are famous for their four hour-long+ meals! We like to savour and enjoy our food and wine.Over the years, the Apéro’s amuse-bouche got bigger, longer and more diverse, and people were no longer hungry for a meal afterwards. Now, younger generations meet for an Apéro, a light meal, similar to tapas from Spain.The great thing about Apéro is you can enjoy it everywhere. In the mountains, at the beach, by the river or at home. The perfect way to bring a slice of France to your home.To prepare the perfect Apéro, bring together a selection of small plates, something for everyone. The essentials are cheese and cured meat platters. There is cheese produced in almost every region of France, so be adventurous! For the cured meat, the delicious classics are ham - called “jambon” in French - and saucisson. And never forget the bread – ensure its fresh and crunchy! To pair with this feast, everyone has their drink of choice: pastis, rinquinquin, vermouth – the choice is yours.Make it an occassion by inviting people over, Apéro is a sharing experience!French Apéro ChecklistClick on the links to buy the products on our online shopAll featured products - Click hereFor a simple cheese platter everyone will enjoy:Fromager d'AffinoisComteBleu d'AuvergneFor a very French cured meat platter:Saucisson SecJambon IGP BayonneFor a little zest on your platters:Cornichons - French GherkinsGreen Olive with HerbsSmall OnionsSardines St GeorgesBaguette - The Famous French BreadFor pairing with this feast, choose your French Apéritif drink:PastisRinquinquinPineau des Charentes BlancVermouth RougePommeau de Normandie