A retro feast

[angrypixie]

I'm hosting a groovy retro 1970s dinner party and would love to hear all your menu ideas so far I have thought of;

Drinks
babycham
cinzano
snowball
Blue Nun/Black tower

Nibbles
Coronation chicken vol-a-vents
Pineapple/cheese hedgehog

Starter
Prawn cocktail, served in a wine glass with melba toast
or
Garlic mushrooms

Main
erm.....
Scampi in a basket?
Suggestions please

Dessert
Black forest gateau ?????

Please dig deep one and all and make for a groovy evening.

a needy bump?

how about a fondue?

Found this:

Dinner parties were gaining popularity. People were taking more holidays abroad and liked to be reminded of their holidays in Spain by enjoying Gazpacho and Paella back home. Other "exotic" favourites were inspired by meals from Indian and Chinese restaurants. Again the dishes were basic - chicken curry, sweet and sour pork, nothing too adventurous by modern standards. A dinner party was chance to show off and cookery books by (the late) Robert Carrier, Graham Kerr (the "Galloping Gourmet") and Delia Smith were often the inspiration for something a little more special.

Here are a few suggestions:

Starters/nibbles

Quiche Lorraine
Gazpacho
Melon and orange cocktail
Ratatouille
Vol-au-vents
Cold soufflés e.g. salmon/prawn
Cold soups [especially in 1976]
Vichyssoise
Prawn cocktail [60s favourite, but still popular in the 70s and 80s]

Fish main
Scampi
Paella [a reminder of holidays on the Costa Brava]
Sweet and sour prawns
Dressed crab

Meat main
Peppered steak [plain steak and chips were popular too]
Chicken in a Basket [a classic meal out in the 70s!]
Chilli Con Carne
Boeuf Stroganoff
Chicken Chasseur
Chicken curry
Sweet and sour pork spare ribs
Weiner Schnitzel (veal cutlets)

Vegetarian
Stuffed peppers
Nut roast
Stuffed aubergines
Cheese fondue [70s classic]

Desserts
Rum Baba
Cheesecake
Soufflé [various hot or cold - a 60s favourite that was still popular]
Summer Pudding
Baked Alaska
Ice cream [run and raison/chocolate/vanilla]
Brandy Snaps
Banana Split [the Galloping Gourmet- Graham Kerr - claimed to have invented this!]
Crème Brûlée
Syllabub

and an old MN thread

check delia. When she went retro I think she made a steak and ale pie for the main (she also had prawn cocktail for starter and BF gateau for afters)

V good book called the Prawn Cocktail Years (can't remember author, soz) has really delicious versions of these dishes...

coronation chicken?

ooh thanks Hulababy and ID.

A fondue is so naff it's wonderful. Also loving the idea of butterscotch angel delight on the previous thread. x

Has anyone said profiteroles?

just looked up delia - her 60s revival menu had Beef in Designer Beer for the main

I really love all this food. To the extent I refuse to put a after that statement

Beef-wise it's got to be goulash hasn't it?

Anyway a quick google gives us here

But what I was looking for was that program with sue perkins where they have to do the food from an era - the seventies one was fab . Can't remember what they ate though apart from angel delight and shit loads of booze. The booze invariably had to be blue cocktails...

ooh thanks everyone, getting excited now

Let us know what you decide. i am worryingly interested!

Will be a brilliant night - is everyone dressing up or is it just the food thats retro?

Musaka Mousakka Moossaka Moussarka You know, that Greek aubergine thing.

chicken kiev???
Apparently you can still get Vesta meals... if you can find one, might be worth making a couple of varieties for a laugh

Oh god. Findus crispy pancakes. Puke.

Disclaimer, never actually eaten one. But DH says they are nice?????

tinofspam I will, and yes dressing up a must!
Chicken Kiev sounds plausible, very exotic & sophisticated for the 70s

Prawn cocktail
Smash?

Can I come? I always said I fancied an Abigail's Party themed party for my 40th but, alas, there is little in the kitty to pay for a party. Ah well

Melon boats with glace cherries.

chicken maryland (everyone will keel over with hardened arteries at the end!)

Chilli con carne (was VERY creative and edgy in the 70's)

Black Forest Gaateau or Profitoroles (however you spell the blinking things...)

Ikiboo Abigail's party is just what I have in mind and you must do it for your birthday!

Needn't be expensive, get everyone to bring a dish, they'll have fun researching 70's food like me, I'll lend you a copy of my double CD aptly titled '70's dinner party' and you're away!

Oh yes, melton boats, with a slice of orange on a cocktail stick as a sail.

Oh I am so excited now!

Yesterday I found out what chicken maryland cvonsists of. I never knew, all tehse years.

breaded and fried chicken and banana and sweetcorn fritter. Can't believe I never wondered.

i dont think coronation chicken is 70s

love chicken maryland