Bruschettas, Canapés, Toasts and Croutons

What is a Tartine?

A tartine is a fancy French open-faced sandwich topped with spreadableIngredients. Basically a chic little sammie by French standards, only it's not closed for presentation purposes. Two slices of bread (or one, if you're eating light) can be smeared with either sweet or savory toppings and they're very Pinterestworthy, considering their artful arrangements. If you need a visual, think of the ever-popular avocado toast, which is probably the most common tartine eaten these days.

Tartines Tips

A. All shaved or thinly sliced vegetables and fresh-picked herbs on this menu can be prepped ahead of time and refrigerator-stored in cold water with a few ice cubes. This keeps them crisp, allows them to curl in an attractive way and gives you two additional days of storage.

B. To keep your presentation tidy, apply spreads onto bread and slice into the desired size and shape, wiping your knife blade between each cut. Then add garnishes like vegetables and herbs. If you garnish before slicing, your knife will make a mess of yourIngredients.

C. Present tartines on the center long cut of a sourdough loaf. Showcase the remaining portion of the loaf (the unused outside areas) alongside the assembled tartine for visual impact.

D. Assemble tartines no more than an hour before your guests arrive or the bread will combine with the spreads and become soggy.

What's the Difference Between Bruschetta, Crostini, Montaditos, Tartine, and Toast?

Bruschetta

Bread should be grilled or broiled to some degree of char to be called bruschetta, and it's always heavenly. Whether it's soaking up juicy, chopped tomatoes and olive oil, or simply rubbed with a halved garlic clove, there is truly nothing better.

Crostini

Crostini are generally made with white bread, such as a simple Italian loaf or a baguette, sliced evenly, and toasted just to crisp it up, not to darken it unduly. In Italian crostina means crusty, and crostini means toasts.

Toast

Slices of bread, toasted until golden brown and to varying degrees of crispness, that's toast. This can be done in a toaster, under the broiler, or by putting the slice of bread on a toasting fork and holding it over the fire.

Tartine

Basically it's a French word for an open-faced sandwich. Tartines can be small or large, eaten for breakfast or lunch. Tartines might be made with thinly sliced, dense bread and arranged in pretty, Scandinavian Smorrebrod fashion, or in an idealized rustic style.

Montadito

A Montadito is a unique tapa-sized rolls of bread similar to a baguette but wider and with a twist. Each montadito is filled with the bestIngredients available.