“Outside the works” or hors d’oeuvre is this small bite-size items served before a meal, or at a cocktail party. Canapes is just one type made with pastry, bread or crackers. Flavored cream cheese, some kind of spread or even butter, and then a topping that can be seafood, or meat, fruit or vegetable. There are those other small items served on toothpick, a skewer or a stick like fruit kebabs, satay beef, grilled shrimp or cheese. Another type is made with small pastry shells which you can filled sweet or savoury ingredient. Crudite platters or dips, with chips or crackers. Or it can be as simple as a bowl of nuts.