This easy and elegant starter is a delicious beginning to any meal – enjoy!

• 4 T olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 clove garlic, whole
• 1-2 baguettes, sliced 1/2-1 inch slices
• 8 oz smoked salmon, sliced
• 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 T capers, drained and crushed
• 1/4 c red onion, very thinly sliced (optional for serving)
• green onion, green part very thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, very thinly sliced (optional for serving)
• dill (optional for serving)
• kosher salt
• 1/2 wedges of lemon, to serve

Heat grill pan; Rub baguette slices with whole garlic; drizzle about 1 T olive oil in pan, place bread in hot pan; drizzle with a little olive oil, sprinkle with a touch of kosher salt; turn to grill other side of bread – move to cooling rack to finish grilling the rest of the bread slices.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, a pinch of kosher salt, capers and minced garlic; stir until well mixed. To serve, you can get creative:

1. pile the grilled bread and salmon on wooden bread board – place the cream cheese in a beautiful bowl aside the bread; place lemon and onion slices in small dishes on the side for guests to make their own appetizers
2. slather grilled bread with cream cheese; place a piece of salmon atop the cheese, place a thin slice of lemon or onion atop the salmon. Have fresh dill to sprinkle over.  Crushed red pepper adds a little zip – but only put it on a portion of your grilled bread.