Meze or mezze (also spelled as Mazzeh or Mazze) (Persian: مزه‎‎, Turkish: Meze)(/ˈmɛzeɪ/) is a selection of small dishes served to accompany alcoholic drinks as a course or as appetizers before the main dish in Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Near East and the Balkans. In Levantine, Caucasian and Balkan cuisines meze is served at the beginning of all large-scale meals.