What Was The Food Of The 80s?

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Well, what was it?

― Tom, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pizza Express would like to have it that ever since 1965 they were the only food option avaliable in the 70s, 80s AND 90s. I wonder if their adverts worked. You don't see them any more do you? It's all social work and 'why should I go to the Metropolitan Tabernacle' round these parts.

― Sarah, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Nouvelle cuisine.

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Salsa 'n' chips.

― Michael Daddino, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Monster Munch, Wotsits, Penguins.

― jel --, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Chicken Kiev? Turkey Drummers? Stir Frys?

― N., Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

rucola+parmesan, shrimps+avocados, stupid fusion mess made by confused cooks

― francesco, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Anything that's been "blackened".

― Nicole, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Peanut Butter and Fluff sandwiches.

― Chris, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

and of course Jello Pudding Pops.

― Chris, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Microwave chips.

― Andrew L, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

deep fried brie! i'm so glad it's no longer passé cos i wuv it.

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

How could I have forgotten? It's all about the Jello Pudding Pops!

― Nicole, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

And I love microwaved chips. Hello McCain Mega Chips my guilty pleasure. Deep fried brie though? Ick?!

― Sarah, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well maybe not 'ick' but they are sure a PUZZLING THORT.

― Sarah, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Deep fried brie is nummy, but deep fried camembert is even better.

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

PRAWN COCKTAIL yick.

― Archel, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Deep fried camembert with redcurrant jelly (why?) was a staple starter at college dinners (for various sporting / thespy / music clubs). It was nice but why did they have to serve it with all that lollo rosso crap?

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

And aren't prawn cocktail / avocado type things more 70s than 80s?

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Findus crispy pancakes

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeuch. I have never eaten one but they looked totally grim on the adverts.

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

And aren't prawn cocktail / avocado type things more 70s than 80s? People carried on eating them but yes.
Black Forest Gateau? Again, maybe kicked off in the 70s.
― N., Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Who votes for a ban on N using italics?

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Bernard Matthews' Turkey Roast. Bootiful.

― Nathan Barley, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

― mark s, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

pot noodle?

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry about the italics thing.

Savoury crepes.

― N., Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Us plebs call those 'Findus crispy pancakes'.

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Were Findus Crispy Pancakes actually pancakes? They looked like they were just breadcrumbs wrapped around a mush of mechanically recovered meat.

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

How do these deep fried cheeses taste them? And where will still serve some? Does anyone fancy a deep fried cheese meal?

― Sarah, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Breakaway! So good... it's wicked!

Er, ok, possibly not at chic and sophisticated dinner parties. I spent the 80s eating pasta space invader shapes in tomato sauce, what do I know?

― R, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fried cheese num num - you can get them in Sainsbury's Starry. You should have one for your birthday meal.

― Tom, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

They taste of cheese only with extra crispy lardy stuff and therefore even better. I'm so up for some now but there is no deep fat frier at work chiz.

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am not sure if an entire meal of deep fried cheese would be very palatable. It is kind of greasy and fatty in an excessive way and quite rich. You can surely make it yourself by simply coating some soft cheese in egg / flour / breadcrumbs (can't remember what it was coated in but something along those lines) and deep frying it.

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

We do not have a deep fryer so that cannot be done. We will have to go to a restaurant!!! With crisp white linen!!!

Anyway I have had Findus Crispy Pancakes on many occasion, my stepmother used to buy them loads for some reason. They are like bits of meat and veg in a gooey cheese type (? god knows) sauce in a breadcrumbed up pancake wrap thing. THey are not that bad! But not that nice either.

Where did you see them in Sainsburys Tom? Next time we do a Sainsburys run you must point them out.

― Sarah, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Whatever became of my country's raging love affair with fishsticks? They were so easy to bake! And all you had to do was just squeeze on some lemon to make it real gourmet.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

fish sticks = fish fingers?

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fish don't have fingers, fule.

― Nicole, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it's not my fault they have a silly name

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh I think it is your fault, badger boy.

― Nicole, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Frozen pizzas in either disc or baton form.

― Jonnie, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I adapted the deep-fried brie/camembert recipe to avoid the need for a deep-fat frier, ie. you just dump a load of oil in a normal pan. It then formed the basis of my post A-level feast along with asparagus tips and strawberries - this was our interpretation of what classy adult women would eat I think. But that was in 1996 and thus not relevant to this thread.

― Archel, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Aaarrr, me hearties. My true identity uncovered at laaast.

― Captain Birdseye, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

CHICKEN KIEV. esp the microwaveable type... see the butter in the middle heats up and cooks the whole thing, which was (still is?) a problem with microwaving "meals" rather than veg and stuff.

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think we have a winner.

― RickyT, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Chicken kiev makes me feel abandoned as whenever my parents were going out to a dinner party (scoffing deep fried cheese & stuff) my mum would be too busy tarting herself up to bother about her children and instead of making us the proper food we were used to (and Saturday nights we always had something extra special) she would shove a couple of chicken kievs in the oven and that was our dinner.

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

McDLT. Hot stays hot, cool stays cool, you stay BLORF.

― Daver, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I liked it when Sun Valley diversified and made a range of kiev chicken things. As opposed to butter and garlic they had other stuff in them. Like crispy pancakes.

― Jonnie, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think we have a winner.

Why don't I win for saying Chicken Kiev at the start of the thread?

― N., Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Because as Nicole points out elsewhere, you only eat souls and kibble so are not qualified to comment.

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mmm, kibble and souls...

― N. D James, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

oh yeah. what N. said

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Kibble and souls - sounds like a brand of pet food. And since N. eats it, I guess it is.

― Nicole, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

LEAVE ME ALONE.

― N., Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Little crybaby, I should make you eat your parents.

― Nicole, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Or kibble replicas of his parents, stuffed with garlic butter.

― Emma, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Chicken Kiev hit Ireland sometime in the mid 90s, man I'd crack out a few Wham CDs and eat it as if it was second nature.

― Ronan, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Little crybaby, I should make you eat your parents.

That's illegal in some states, isn't it?

What Nicole said about the 'blackened' deal. Refer to the 'overheard conversations' thread for an example in action (the year was 1988).

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I really, really want chicken kiev now.

― Sarah, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Blackened" food really bothered me when it first introduced because I thought they were trying give soul food a more colorful "ethnic" name. Learning it was a Cajun thing didn't help. (Quote from me at the time: "Cajun? Well, they're all half-black anyway." -> With one fell swoop young Dan destroys Creole/Cajun race politics!)

― Dan Perry, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought the real problem was that they were half-French. ;-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Chicken Kiev is '70s. It was my special occasion food when I was six and I did not feel like a grown-up until my mum let us have a whole Kiev each. I don't think I got my own Kiev until 1980.

MICROWAVE POPCORN is the food of the '80s. As is going for a teppanyaki dinner, Jell-o pudding Pops (which my mum used to make with her own moulds in the '70s along with chocolate-covered frozen bananas), Reese's Pieces, Sbarro pizza, the Happy Meal, the microwave burrito, and au gratin potatoes mixes.

― suzy, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Lymeswold!

― N., Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Suzy is right about the popcorn there. And welcome back. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Findus Crispy Pancakes are very nice.

― jel --, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Kiwi fruit as decoration, esp on a white pudding supper.

― Billy Dods, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

no one's mentioned "Hunrgy Man" dinners?

― Chris, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

FROYO!

― Brian MacDonald, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

How about the Tater Skins by Keebler? They were thicker than a potato chip, brown on one side and golden on the other. The slogan: "Tater Skins have ... baked potato a-peel!" Can't get them any more. Sad.

― Jenga Blox, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yoplait!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

SUSHI sums up the 80s better than any other food I can think of.

― felicity, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

For some reason all I can think of is fruit roll ups.

― Ally, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

magic shell

― keith, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I thought the real problem was that they were half-French. ;-)

Half-French yes, but a problem? ;^}

And the true foods of the 80s were sun-dried tomatoes and bottled water, along with sushi.

― j.lu, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the fridge door opened in ET and we saw the light

― ducklingmonster, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

J.Lu and Felicity speak wisdom. But it's only been in the past couple of years that I've properly come to like sushi. The 80s revival continues!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Proper 80's revival occurs....led by Ned, the original "hair groupie".

Gotta disagree about sushi, though. The TRUE 80's food? Mallomars: one bite of that chocolate and marshmallow, and your teeth fly out.

― Nichole Graham, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tyne Bramd UFO's. Shaped reclaimed meat... mmmmm...

― misterjones, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pop Rocks...at least that's what I was eating that was considered "cool". Hm...maybe that was early 90s instead...

― jen, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You are all very hungry.

― Dan I., Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

dammit, ally said fruit roll ups too. . .

― Ms. S., Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

As far as drinks go, you've got: Sodastream, Quatro and Top Deck shandy.

― Bert, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

miami wine cooler.

― queenoftheharpies, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

frujus. toastie pies.

― queenoftheharpies, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

what is it with Dunedinites and 'toastie pies'? what is this strange phenomenon [and can we eat them, etc etc]?

― petra jane, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

you've never had a toastie pie???!!! well basically, you get a toastie pie machine, butter some bread and put it on the machine, shove your fave fillings inside (such as spaghetti-n-cheese, or cream- n-cheese etc) put a piece of buttered bread on top and clamp the machines thingies together. alison gofton would only be prouder if everyone used mince filling.

― queenoftheharpies, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ahem aren't they just called 'toasties'? Nothing in yr description sounds like ANY PIE IN THE WORLD ... EVAH to me.

― Sarah, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Or 'toasted sandwiches' to give them their official name. They are a bit like a pie really when you do them in those machines, with the bread going all rock hard and sealed at the edges.

― N., Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah they are probably called toasties in some places but they are called toastie pies here.

― queenoftheharpies, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three years pass...

Potato waffles.

― Alba (Alba), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

Jeno's Pizza Rolls (now Totino's).

Second (or third, or...) the Pudding Pops.

Flav-or-Ice.

― Evanston Wade (EWW), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:30 (twenty years ago)

David's Cookies.

― renegade bus (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Scampi, Chicken-in-a-basket, Baked Alaska, Dream Topping, Angel Delight

― thr (thr), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

What was that chocolate-sauce-of-the-future which hardened on impact with ice-cream called? It came in a mountain-shaped container and the top was like brown snow on the summit. Hang on – brown snow?

― Alba (Alba), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:42 (twenty years ago)

Ice Magic!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:45 (twenty years ago)

Anything cooked on mesquite chips.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

Oh, and Lean Cuisine.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:46 (twenty years ago)

They used to do it in different flavours of chocolate - orange with an orange snow top, mint with a green snow top etc

(xpost about Ice Magic

My m-in-law still eats Lean Cuisine microwave meals!!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 3 September 2005 13:48 (twenty years ago)

chicken nuggets

ranch

pot pies

tacos made at home

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Saturday, 3 September 2005 14:09 (twenty years ago)

Alba, I now have the potato waffles jingle stuck in my head. bah.

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 3 September 2005 14:11 (twenty years ago)

1. lunchables
2. kid cuisine

― roxymuzak (roxymuzak), Saturday, 3 September 2005 14:21 (twenty years ago)

casserole

― dog latin (dog latin), Saturday, 3 September 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

That reminds me...goulash, Vesta curries

― thr (thr), Saturday, 3 September 2005 17:32 (twenty years ago)

Big League Chew

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Saturday, 3 September 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

home grilled hamburgers with lipton's onion soup mix in em.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Saturday, 3 September 2005 17:39 (twenty years ago)

kool-aid

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), Saturday, 3 September 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

80s- First appearance of chicken sandwiches at burger places

― Orbit (Orbit), Saturday, 3 September 2005 19:02 (twenty years ago)

what a time to be alive.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Saturday, 3 September 2005 21:35 (twenty years ago)

alba shakes

― renegade bus (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 3 September 2005 21:39 (twenty years ago)

We found a cookbook for 10p called (get this) "Oat Cuisine"

― dog latin (dog latin), Saturday, 3 September 2005 23:38 (twenty years ago)

rice cakes!

― renegade bus (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 3 September 2005 23:38 (twenty years ago)

i had a texan bar the other day - it's a retro reissue thing

― Britain's Jauntiest Shepherd (Alan), Saturday, 3 September 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

Pepperidge Farm's Parmesan Goldfish and bran muffins or bran anything for that matter

― jim wentworth (wench), Sunday, 4 September 2005 01:05 (twenty years ago)

WACKY WAFERS AND ZOTS, People.
Plus oversized hot doughy pretzels, cheap hot dogs and slush puppies.

― Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Sunday, 4 September 2005 15:20 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

Choc-ice

― the next grozart, Monday, 26 February 2007 10:23 (eighteen years ago)

Cheese fondue

― C J, Monday, 26 February 2007 10:50 (eighteen years ago)

knicker bocker glory

― the next grozart, Monday, 26 February 2007 11:06 (eighteen years ago)

Some of these are 70s. We need another thread!

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 26 February 2007 11:46 (eighteen years ago)

Double Deckers. Yes I know you can still get them but I'm sure they were outphased for a while in the 90s and then made a comeback towards the end of the decade.

― the next grozart, Monday, 26 February 2007 12:22 (eighteen years ago)

Anyone remember that advert for chips where the toddler kid would go "FEED ME. FEED ME... FEED ME NOW!!!". That used to freak me out a lot.

― the next grozart, Monday, 26 February 2007 12:24 (eighteen years ago)

alphabet spaghetti

― Ste, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:00 (eighteen years ago)

Set yoghurts.

― accentmonkey, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:05 (eighteen years ago)

I don't remember loving microwave chips ever, never mind 4 years ago. Blimey :(

― Sarah, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:07 (eighteen years ago)

im pretty sure it was celery and cottage cheese

― sunny successor, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:08 (eighteen years ago)

STEAK-UMS!!!

― Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:31 (eighteen years ago)

kibbles n bits

― jergincito, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:35 (eighteen years ago)

"is a toastie a pie" is worth another look-in

― Tracer Hand, Monday, 26 February 2007 14:41 (eighteen years ago)

someone already said it, but fruit rollups

― billstevejim, Monday, 26 February 2007 19:52 (eighteen years ago)

bonkers

― Ai Lien, Monday, 26 February 2007 20:32 (eighteen years ago)

'why should I go to the Metropolitan Tabernacle'

those ads are strangely comforting. they've remained unchanged for decades.

― lauren, Monday, 26 February 2007 21:06 (eighteen years ago)

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