There was a time when a party simply wasn’t a party without some festive, homemade foods. We obviously still enjoy those yummy dishes, but more and more of our party foods come from a bag these days. The get togethers that many of us grew up with had some very particular foods that would been brought out just for these occasions. They were not what we might usually have- these were special foods! For better or for worse you don’t see them much anymore. Here are 6 vintage party foods that seem to be dying out.
6) Jell-o Rings
Jell-o rings can be tricky to get just right. As such it was a sign of a host’s skill and dedication to make one and have it come out looking picture perfect. These could be savory or sweet, though we tend to think of Jell-o as a sweet dish these days, not savory. Perhaps that’s why today we still have ambrosia and pink salad at potlucks, but no salmon Jell-o.
5) Punch
Big, elaborate punch bowls were once a prized possession in many households and that’s because punch was a sign that a party was in full swing. You might have fruity concoctions for summer, eggnog for winter, and alcoholic punches for cocktail parties. Somewhere along the way punch became more of a hassle than a treat and many folks didn’t relish the idea of dipping a ladle into a vat of quickly warming liquid.
4) Hors d’Oeuvres
We still have appetizers at functions for sure. But, they aren’t usually the delicate, layered, complex creations that would have been served back in the 1950s or even into the 1980s. If you can remember rumaki, cherubs on horseback, or petits fours then you know it’s probably been a while since you’ve been served any of these treats at a party.
That’s not to say we don’t have appetizers, they just often come from a bag in the form of chips and dip.
3) Finger Sandwiches
Depending on what type of gathering it was you might be served finger sandwiches, also sometimes called tea sandwiches. These small sammies could be made by cutting the crusts off larger pieces of bread and then cutting them down into triangles. Or you could use petit toasts or other small breads made just for finger foods like these. These small breads were also great for making appetizers, too.
The fillings could be cream cheese based or use fish or roast beef or veggies. These are still quite popular in the UK, but in the US they don’t seem to be served that often anymore.
2) Shrimp Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail was once the Holy Grail of party foods, one of the fanciest things you could bring out to your guests. Those perfectly pink shrimp, the lemon wedges, and that ever-so-slightly spicy sauce! It was a match made in heaven and quite pricy back then. It was a real mark of distinction to serve this at your function!
These could be served on a big platter with cocktail sauce in the middle or done as individual servings in a cocktail glass (perhaps where name comes from?). Some shrimp cocktails even had the shrimp submerged in a bowl or glass of sauce already, saving you the trouble of having to dip them.
1) After Dinner Coffee
To finish the evening it was once customary to serve coffee to your guests and it didn’t matter if it was 11pm or not! Back then coffee was seen as a relaxing drink, not the caffeine-filled jet fuel many see it as today. You might also be served coffee all through the meal as well. It was just how things were done back then. Some hostesses would keep 2 pots going the whole party just to keep up with how quickly the guests were drinking it!
Today most folks will say “no” to a cup of coffee that late in the evening, just another thing that’s changed over the years.