Shortly after the new year, we at Mirror80 began a new monthly series called Retro Foodie. Focused on entertaining with a big dose of retro style, our priority is making entertaining easy and affordable while giving a shout out to New Retro style (late ’70s through the early ’90s). Today we highlight some of our favorite Retro Foodie moments with the montage above, while leaving you with the links below so you can try these easy recipes and displays on your own.
Retro Foodie Recipe: Blood Orange Granitas
Summer Greetings, Everyone! I promised to share the recipe for these blood orange granitas, the dessert from our Neon Noir Party. They are so easy you’d think it was cheating to whip up a batch of these and call them “homemade.” Read on for more details on this tropical dessert with an ’80s twist…
Retro Foodie: A Neon Noir Party
Greetings, ’80s-Lovers! Today we reveal our latest Retro Foodie adventure: a Neon Noir Party Menu that combines tropical style with easy entertaining. If you’re a fan of Neon Noir, you know the flip side of this crime-filled genre is the glamorous vibe that underscores each dangerous plotline. Because undercover detectives working the streets of 1980s Miami would never wear anything less than designer suits, right? This party channels a bit of neon, a dash of the tropics, and a sampling of food and drink. Enjoy!
’80s Summer Party Ideas
Happy Summer, Everyone! With the warm weather comes many thoughts of entertaining over the next few months… So I’m gathering ideas for summer parties and future Retro Foodie posts. To prepare, I’ve created a new Pinterest board called ’80s Summer Party Ideas. First on the list: a Neon Noir night! Think Miami Vice meets cool, tropical cuisine. And we’re combining this event with the iris and lily-themed fete we were already planning, because let’s face it–in many a Neon Noir thriller, someone lives in a swanky residence where an ’80s Deco vase holds a bundle of calla lilies or similar blooms. There’s a glamorous side to all of this, and we intend to milk it for all it’s worth!
A Memphis-Milano Mood Board
Have you been following our Retro Foodie series? Each month we create a foodscape based on an eye-catching aspect of New Retro design. Earlier this month, we featured an ’80s yuppie-style cocktail party that included swanky drinks and decadent appetizers. We’re already planning next month’s affair, a junk food fest that celebrates Memphis-Milano style! Today’s mood board channels the look we’re going for, which involves plenty of colorful drinks, various ice cream treats with sprinkles, and of course, my High Spirits dinnerware from Mikasa…
Retro Foodie: A Yuppie Cocktail Party Menu
This ’80s yuppie cocktail party has been in the works for quite some time, and we’re thrilled to bring you the pics from this week’s photo shoot! The key to throwing an ’80s cocktail party: good drinks and over-the-top food. In the 1980s, it was all about food presentation. Food was stacked, garnished and arranged as art. The portions were often too small and the finishes overdone, but hey–it was pretty! And nobody needed to escape into the world of gourmet food like the ’80s yuppie (young upwardly-mobile professional). They worked more than they played, so when they played, they had to play hard!
Retro Foodie: An ’80s Valentine’s Day Dessert Buffet!
It’s hard to imagine a holiday that’s more ’80s-worthy than Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re single or coupled, this is a time to revel in the myriad of dessert-themed visuals that can’t help but conjure the decadence of the 1980s. If you’ve been reading Mirror80 this month, you know that we created two mood boards in preparation for this Retro Foodie photo shoot. The first celebrates the glam side of ’80s Valentine’s Day style. The second emphasizes everything cute and candy-colored in the realm of ’80s sweets. After much thought and consideration, we decided to go cute. After all, we can veer into glam territory for a range of foodie adventures. But how often can you have a full-on ’80s-style sweet fest?! Read on for more details…
’80s Valentine’s Day Style
If you saw yesterday’s Retro Foodie post, you know how much we love to entertain! Next up: An ’80s-style Valentine’s Day dessert party. To prepare, we’re creating a series of mood boards to try and find a signature look for this event. Today it’s all about ’80s glamour–crystal, rose petals, and of course, strawberries and champagne…
Retro Foodie: An ’80s Awards Show Party
Hi Everyone! Awards season is officially here, so we proudly present our second installment of “Retro Foodie” with an awards show menu that is easy, dazzling and fun. Plus some ’80s-inspired decor that plays up the “glam” element of the decade’s design. To begin, a backdrop of balloons taped to the wall creates the effect of pearls, or bubbles in a glass of champagne.
’80s New Year Decor
Why is party decor so inherently ’80s?! We’ve explored this phenomenon in the realm of Halloween decorations, and now we’re on the cusp of the new year, once again blown away by the 1980s flair that oozes from mainstream party supply retailers. What’s at the root of this glittery revival?! The flash, the eye-catching aspect of festive occasions, a nostalgia that has entered the minds of product designers? Or perhaps ’80s design mimicked party pizzazz back in the day. Whatever the inspiration, how can you not love the results? Especially when everything is so darn affordable…
