Madonna, MTV, 'Back to the Future', Princess Diana – a lot of people still look back fondly on the 1980s. And it's not just the iconic pop culture moments they remember; the 80s were also known for the incredible, albeit slightly bizarre, cuisine. Vibrant colours and unique flavour combinations were on full display, as hosting dinner parties became the ultimate social status symbol.
Now, shoppers are craving some of those nostalgic dishes. A recent survey from Waitrose revealed that almost half of UK adults (48%) say 1980s dishes are officially making a comeback. Matcha and chicken caesar salad wraps might do it for some, but for those with a retro palate, you just can't beat the classics.
Top 80s Dishes Brits Want Back
According to the supermarket's survey, 28% of Brits said prawn cocktail was the dish they most wanted to see back on their tables. A seafood staple made with cooked prawns in a Marie Rose sauce or cocktail sauce, served in a glass, it's one of the most distinguishable dishes from the era. Nowadays, you don't even need to make it from scratch yourself – with Waitrose noting that sales of its luxury prawn cocktail had jumped 170% year on year.
Meanwhile, 24% of Brits expressed a hankering for beef bourguignon, while 18% said they would enjoy quiche Lorraine. Sweet treats from the 80s are also making their way back into family dinners. Waitrose's report showed interest in bread and butter pudding (24%), rhubarb and custard (20%), and banana split (19%).
Waitrose Embraces the Trend
To capitalise on the craze, Waitrose has even launched a themed guide: 'The Dinner Party Decade: The definitive 1980s dinner party resurgence.' Describing it as a 'celebration of the decade's most iconic food', the supermarket has included dozens of nostalgic recipes alongside some tips and tricks on how to host the ultimate 80s dinner party.
Some have speculated that the 80s food craze might be driven by the return of Jilly Cooper's 'Rivals' series to TV screens. Showcasing the opulence of British dining in the 80s, 'Rivals' often puts dramatic dinner parties at the forefront of its storytelling. Dishes like fish mousse, pheasant with prawn sauce, and a meringue castle with an ice-cream moat are all featured in the show. And, of course, you can't forget the importance of Coronation Chicken.
Chef Gordon Ramsay has even embraced the trend, instructing his chefs to serve pavlova from the dessert trolley at his newly opened Bread Street Kitchen at London's 22 Bishopsgate.
Social Media Influence
One content creator who has fully embraced the 80s trend is Steph, known on TikTok as @luckydragonsupperclub. Recently, she has been recreating recipes found inside a vintage copy of Vogue Entertaining. Released in 1986, the guide provides readers with dozens of dishes perfect for hosting. While the meals featured in Steph's videos differ slightly from some of the more quintessentially British dishes, the ambience and aesthetic remain the same. A particular stand out has to be 'Pineapple with chicken mayonnaise'. Shredded chicken breast and seasoned mayonnaise spooned into a hollowed-out pineapple, this recipe perfectly encapsulates the 80s desire to gut fruits and turn them into bowls.
