50s/60s/70s era fancy appetizers?

[Anonymous]

Wasps are really boring. Squares of cheese on ritz or saltines and little dishes of nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I need you guys to remember this more specifically, but there was a fancy appetizer of that era that was a gherkin pickle wrapped in ham that had a spread of cream cheese, all held together with a tooth pick. Is that ringing a bell for anyone? It was weirdly good.

Yes, it was a sweet gherkin and buddig chipped beef spread with Philadelphia cream cheese. Wrapped and speared with a toothpick like pinwheels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A container of Boursin cheese next to a baguette that nobody has bothered to slice up, because no guest is actually going to eat said Boursin or baguette.

lol yes! My in-laws always have “food for visitors” which is Boursin and crackers from Costco in a multipack.

[Anonymous]

Cream cheese with red pepper jelly /apricot jam poured over the entire block. Served with triscuits or wheat thins

[Anonymous]

Dinner menu for Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid, 1971

http://ciadigitalcollections.culinary.edu/digital/api/singleitem/image/p16940coll1/18553/default.jpg

[Anonymous]

Vol-au-vents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cream cheese with red pepper jelly /apricot jam poured over the entire block. Served with triscuits or wheat thins

I remember one with crabmeat flaked over the cream cheese block, with cocktail sauce poured over the top. Serve with saltines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cream cheese with red pepper jelly /apricot jam poured over the entire block. Served with triscuits or wheat thins

I remember one with crabmeat flaked over the cream cheese block, with cocktail sauce poured over the top. Serve with saltines.

There's also a sweet variation of this that my WASP relatives (by marriage) have served. It's a dip made with whipped cream cheese and apricot jam that you put on gingersnaps.

[Anonymous]

devlied eggs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A container of Boursin cheese next to a baguette that nobody has bothered to slice up, because no guest is actually going to eat said Boursin or baguette.

I didn't encounter Boursin til the 1990s-- wasn't even aware it was available in the US in the 70s.

However: brie, slathered with grey poupon mustard, wrapped in pillsbury crescent dough, and baked. That's how you know it's a fancy party (in the midwest in the 70s).

[Anonymous]

Shrimp cocktail.
Cheese ball with crackers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP—wow, thank you all! You really overdelivered! I’m now planning on:
- Shrimp cocktail
- Triscuits plus a Knorr/mayo dip (maybe the artichoke/leek?)
- either cheese straws or devils on horseback or the ham hideaways

Thoughts? If a friend asked for inspiration, what should I add? (We often have someone bring cheese & fancy crackers, so might steer away from that combo.)

Add deviled eggs.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wasps are really boring. Squares of cheese on ritz or saltines and little dishes of nuts.

+1

Everyone is trying to suggest really fancy things. But the rich WASPy people put out a cheeseball and some crackers, some olives, and a dish of nuts and called it a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A container of Boursin cheese next to a baguette that nobody has bothered to slice up, because no guest is actually going to eat said Boursin or baguette.

I didn't encounter Boursin til the 1990s-- wasn't even aware it was available in the US in the 70s.

However: brie, slathered with grey poupon mustard, wrapped in pillsbury crescent dough, and baked. That's how you know it's a fancy party (in the midwest in the 70s).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cream cheese with red pepper jelly /apricot jam poured over the entire block. Served with triscuits or wheat thins

I remember one with crabmeat flaked over the cream cheese block, with cocktail sauce poured over the top. Serve with saltines.

My grandparents put clams and worcestershire sauce over the cream cheese block and called it "clam dip" and served with crackers.