After a long week in the office, meeting up with friends for a drink on a Friday makes it all worthwhile. If you are hosting, take inspiration from the French tradition of l’apéro, short for apéritifs after work. This pre-dinner after work ritual feeds the soul as much as those end-of-afternoon hunger pangs.
FRENCH AFTER WORK
The French take their apéro time seriously. The whole country. Always shared, the Gallic version of Happy Hour is elegant, classy, filled with laughter and will often lead into dinner. Sometimes it even takes the place of your evening meal. French writer Paul Morand once famously said “L’apéritif, c’est la prière du soir des Français” - the apéritif is the evening prayer of the French.
It’s apéritif o’clock
The word apéritif itself comes from the Latin word meaning "to open" and so, while drinks with friends is a time after working hours to close down the work day, it is also seen as a prelude to dinner, the opening of the rest of the evening. It is a celebration of the simple things. Friendship, a shared moment, time spent relaxing with people you care about.
In great taste
Ideally, beer would already be perfectly chilled. Cocktails can be served. And, because this is a French tradition, food is all important. Nothing too heavy: Snacks, finger food, baguette and cheeses or charcuterie, maybe some nuts or chips.
Light some candles. Maybe match your cocktail napkins to the French blue of your 1664 Blanc bottles to infuse a Parisian touch. And that’s it. You are ready for apéros. All that is required is a little forethought. And a few good friends.