Finger foods, canapes, hors d’oeuvres — proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. Whatever name they may go by, appetizers are pretty much where it’s at. They allow you to indulge without generally feeling guilty, and you get to sample a bunch of different things in little bite-sized portions with no need to breathe. It’s the perfect way to consume food.
So yeah, your mom may scold you about ruining your appetite, but sometimes the first course is just as good as (if not better than) the main course. Three words for you: Treat. Yo. Self. So on that note, here are five appetizers to get down and dirty with in OKC.
The Wedge Trio from The Wedge Pizzeria
There’s the Holy Trinity, and then there’s the Wedge Trio. Bowl No. 1: roasted artichoke hearts. Bowl No. 2: roasted red bell pepper hummus. Bowl No. 3: kalamata olive tapenade. All of this is surrounded by a warm and toasty portion of Italian herb flatbread. Play it safe and taste them each individually, or take a walk on the wild side and try them all together. Either way, satisfaction guaranteed.
Okie Poutine from The Mule
Traditional poutine, a dish originating from Quebec, takes French fries and tops them with light brown gravy and cheese curds. The Mule, in true Okie style, opts to batter those fries in beer, trades out the brown for housemade white gravy and sprinkles the top (nay, downs it all) with melty cheese curds straight from Watonga, Oklahoma. If there’s a more delicious way to ingest a fried substance, then I haven’t yet come across it.
Homemade Pub Pretzel from Republic Gastropub
Confession time: My gluten-free friend and I had dinner plans a few weeks ago, and I suggested Republic just so I could order the homemade pub pretzel and knowingly have to consume it all by myself. Shameful? Maybe. Regretful? Hell to the no. I am essentially Stanley Hudson when it comes to this lightly browned, flawlessly salted pretzel. I could eat this thing by itself, but serve it with Serrano-honey mustard and beer-cheese fondue like Republic so wisely chooses to do, and I basically lose it.
Seven Pepper Queso from Iguana Grill
Yet another appetizer featuring cheese and carbs, and yet another reason for me to momentarily forget that vegetables exist. I’ve never come across a dish more deserving of the nickname “liquid gold” than the queso at Iguana Grill. Hot in all the ways a good dip should be, this stuff makes the perfect addition to anything on the menu but also goes great with the old-school partner of crispy tortilla chips. Prepare to both thank me and hate me for introducing you to this magic.
When I Dip from Empire Slice House
Every now and then, vegetarians (some, not all) come across a culinary treasure seemingly so delectable that they’re willing to pick out/off whatever meat might be included. For me, that white whale of an hors d’oeuvre can be found at Empire Slice House: roasted artichokes, marinated spinach, red pepper, and, sigh, bacon. But, I’m telling you, this dip is unique. Hot and creamy just like great spinach artichoke chip should be, it’s also slightly spicy and subtlety smoky (one guess as to what gives it that smoky flavor) and made to be shoveled in with a ring of crunchy flatbread hanging out on the side. I don’t care who you are; it’s damn good and fully worth it.
