Lähtöannos

Lähtöannos is a term used in Finnish cuisine and catering to describe a small starter portion served at the beginning of a meal, often as part of a tasting menu or as an amuse-bouche. The word combines lähtö meaning "start" or "beginning" and annos meaning "portion" or "dish." In Finnish dining, läähdöannos is positioned before the main course and is conceptually distinct from alkupala, which broadly refers to appetizers served before the main course.

In practice, a lähtöannos is typically light in flavor and size, designed to whet the appetite and introduce the chef’s approach for the meal. It may be served hot or cold, depending on the concept, and is commonly presented with deliberate plating to set the tone for the course that follows. The exact form of a lähtöannos varies between restaurants and events; there is no fixed recipe or standard portion size.

Terminology and usage: The term is most often found in formal or high-end dining or event catering in Finland. While some establishments use lähtöannos as a formal label for a dedicated starter, others use it more loosely as a traditional expression for a first bite in a tasting sequence. It is related to, but distinct from, alkupala (appetizer) and from the broader concept of degustation.

See also: alkupala; degustation; amuse-bouche.