1980s NYC inspired hors d’oeuvres?

[Anonymous]

Hello! I’m looking for ideas for an hors d’oeuvres / passable appetizer to bring to bookclub this week. Our book was Bonfire of the Vanities, hence looking for mid-1980s NYC inspired ideas. I’m not holding myself to the standard of the overly fancy/fussy Park Avenue dinner parties, but a little nod to the 80s in NYC might be nice.

My initial thought was something from Silver Palate, like stuffed mushrooms. Im leaning savory, but could also go sweet with something like black & white cookies. Thoughts?

(Thanks in advance—this group gave me great ideas for two previous themes!!)

[Anonymous]

Caviar baby potatoes, rye swiss cheese squares (could add corned beef on it, brie and jam bites, salami with cream cheese rolls.

[Anonymous]

Clams Casino

[Anonymous]

Definitely stuffed mushrooms. In the 80s my mom taught me to make choux pastry and told me you could put almost anything inside it and it would be good. I’d go with crab salad or curry chicken salad. A cheese ball. Clam dip. Spiced nuts. Shrimp cocktail. And people were definitely still rocking fondue pots into the 80s. Mini quiches were starting to be big. Filled crepes folded into fourths. Kind of expensive but we always had bacon wrapped oysters. And always mini cheesecakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely stuffed mushrooms. In the 80s my mom taught me to make choux pastry and told me you could put almost anything inside it and it would be good. I’d go with crab salad or curry chicken salad. A cheese ball. Clam dip. Spiced nuts. Shrimp cocktail. And people were definitely still rocking fondue pots into the 80s. Mini quiches were starting to be big. Filled crepes folded into fourths. Kind of expensive but we always had bacon wrapped oysters. And always mini cheesecakes.

I think Bacon-Wrapped Scallops were also a thing...I believe they called them "Angels on Horseback."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely stuffed mushrooms. In the 80s my mom taught me to make choux pastry and told me you could put almost anything inside it and it would be good. I’d go with crab salad or curry chicken salad. A cheese ball. Clam dip. Spiced nuts. Shrimp cocktail. And people were definitely still rocking fondue pots into the 80s. Mini quiches were starting to be big. Filled crepes folded into fourths. Kind of expensive but we always had bacon wrapped oysters. And always mini cheesecakes.

Thank you for reminding me about those mini cheesecakes.

[Anonymous]

Baked brie. Brie anything.

[Anonymous]

Dumplings and other dim sum options, à la Working Girl.

[Anonymous]

oysters rockefeller

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Flushing, Queens and what I recall is chopped liver and Ritz crackers, along with celery and carrot sticks and a Lipton onion dip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dumplings and other dim sum options, à la Working Girl.

Pardon the sidebar, but wouldn’t a Working Girl themed party be amazing?

[Anonymous]

Shrimp cocktail
Oysters Rockefeller
Cheese ball and those square Ritz like crackers
Strawberry pretzel 3 layer bars
Sprite/sherbet punch

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up in Flushing, Queens and what I recall is chopped liver and Ritz crackers, along with celery and carrot sticks and a Lipton onion dip.

The fancy folks called it pate.

[Anonymous]

Just pull from the Silver Palate cookbook. Done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Definitely stuffed mushrooms. In the 80s my mom taught me to make choux pastry and told me you could put almost anything inside it and it would be good. I’d go with crab salad or curry chicken salad. A cheese ball. Clam dip. Spiced nuts. Shrimp cocktail. And people were definitely still rocking fondue pots into the 80s. Mini quiches were starting to be big. Filled crepes folded into fourths. Kind of expensive but we always had bacon wrapped oysters. And always mini cheesecakes.

I think Bacon-Wrapped Scallops were also a thing...I believe they called them "Angels on Horseback."

It took me until about 10 years ago to realize that my mom making bacon wrapped water chestnuts was the poor version of this (Still delicious, especially soaked in soy sauce and brown sugar).