Dips – accompaniment to raw vegetables, and sometime potato chips and crackers. Any mixture of spreads can be used as dips. Appetizers are finger foods usually served prior to a meal, or in between mealtimes, and are also called hors d’oeuvres, antipasti, or starters, and may range from the very simple to the very complex, depending on the occasion and the time devoted to making them. They’re a common accompaniment to aperitifs, cocktails served prior to a meal.
At dinners, banquets and the like, appetizers may be served prior to a meal. This is especially common at weddings when it takes time for the wedding party and guests to get to a reception after the marriage has taken place. Appetizers may be served at long parties that occur after a regular mealtime. A mid-afternoon party where there is no intent to serve dinner, or an evening party that occurs after dinner may feature appetizers so that guests can have the opportunity to snack. . Many restaurants feature a range of appetizers that are ordered just prior to a meal as a first course.