What's Old Is Still New

With the Superbowl over, I was thinking about appetizers:  what was served 50 years ago, and what we serve now.  Our super bowl party had chicken wings, hot, mild, and sweet.  This was not on any buffet table at superbowl 1.  Other than the popularity of chicken wings, not much has changed in appetizers over the years.

Deviled eggs are as popular today as they were in 1960.  Not only are they served as an appetizer at home parties, they're on many menus, in the fanciest restaurants.  There was a time when you couldn't find a deviled egg on a menu or at a party, but they've made a big comeback.

Canapes were probably the most popular hors d'oeuvres in 1960.  A small round of bread or cracker with salami, ham, anchovy, cheese or some other spread, was served at home dinner parties as an appetizer.  Today, we have enhanced the canape.  You might find the cracker covered with bruschetta or goat cheese and pear.  The toppings have changed somewhat, but they're still canapes.

Shrimp cocktail has never gone out of style.  It's popularity has been sustained for many years.  Then and now, shrimp cocktail is in.

Dips have always been popular too.  In the 1960's it was onion or clam dip.  Through the years the dips have changed but have maintained their popularity.  Veggies are used to scoop the delicious dip.  New veggies, like jicama and snap peas are in, but the idea of dips has been around forever.

One popular appetizer that we have now, that wasn't around 50 years ago, is the charcuterie platter.  Gourmet salamis and meats, a variety of cheeses, fruits, fresh and dried and nuts.  It's a wonderful appetizer, and there's something for everyone.  Meats and cheeses were used as appetizers years ago, but today they are much more elaborate.

One final item missing from today's appetizers, that was on every table 50 years ago, were gelatin squares with fruit inside.  This was so popular years ago, and has almost completely disappeared from our culture.  For the most part, though, the appetizers we had 50 years ago are still around, some of them just in a more updated way.