80's Cafe

[captain_slinky]

Okay everyone... Help Me! I want to open an 80's-themed restaurant. Lots of bright pastel colors, vintage arcade games, 80's music, and TV's showing reruns of everything from Diff'rent Strokes to Growing Pains 24-hours a day.

But what the hell type of food do you serve there that's 80's themed? In a 50's diner, you serve the only food that was available in the 1950's - Hamburgers. But what foods define the 80's?

bghsmith has been kind enough to suggest Crystal Clear Pepsi, Taco Pizza, and BBQ Chicken Pizza. All I have been able to come up with on my own is the Hostess "Choc-O-Licious" snack cake, washed down with a 16-ounce can of New Coke (C-c-c-c-catch the wave!)... there was to be *SOMETHING ELSE* that was specifically 80's, right?

Wasn't The 80's when the whole "Kraft CHEESE and Macaroni" war started?

Anyway... any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Comments

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

Dude, they have a website for everything these days: Food In The 80's (http://www.inthe80s.com/food/index.shtml).

But what about giving dishes 80's themed names instead? You could have the Caspar Wein-burger, for instance. Alright, that was pathetically obvious, but still...

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Yes... and the Don Johnson-ville Bratwurst with a side of Miami Rice. I had thought of that... but the link you provided will keep me from resorting to those types of shenannigans! Thank you!

What item do *you* want to see on the menu?

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I didn't have a Pizza Hut anywhere near me when I was growing up :( No pizzaz for me :(

Twizlers were NASTY!

My restaurant shall look very much like the I Love Rocky Road set, crossed with the "Cafe 80's" set from Back To The Future II. Lots of neon!

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

Wasn't Pizza Hut, it was Taco Bell that had the Pizzaz Pizza. It later became known as the "Mexican Pizza" which still exists today.

[sarahbellem.livejournal.com]

You know, I was really surprised to see it on the list I sent you, but the Pizzaz Pizza was my all time favorite food as a child of the 80's. A friend of mine actually named his dog "Pizzaz" after it... That had to be 1985 or 86.

Also, Domino's pizza featuring the Noid! I loved the Noid! Who couldn't??? I mean, that has to be one of the *best* marketing ploys EVER. Remember, delivered to you in 30 minutes or less or it's free! LOL!

There was also the California Rasins campaign... What else... Twizlers, which I personally think are nasty but they had that cool commercial with the lips and stuff, a'la Rocky Horror. Shake 'n Bake is another, as are Baco Bits, Ranch Dressing & Pizza (and here I though I invented that one...), the Big Mac and Chicken McNuggets...

All of those are definitely copy-right protected, but you could easily do send-ups of them. Know what would be cool? If you tried to recreate the ice cream shop interior from Weird Al's "I Love Rocky Road" video! That is the perfect example of 80's restaurant decor!

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

[After following link]

Cheese filled Hot dogs! How could I forget! Every time we buy hotdogs for cookout Steve I. says how much he LOVED the chili filled ones!

I actually think someone re-introduced something similar recently.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

The Chilli-filled ones (or at least one brand of them) were called "Frank-N-Weenies". I got my mother to buy them for me *once*, then it was back to Top Ramen for lunch :(

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

I understand the chili got so hot it would burn the skin off the inside of your mouth.

Yea, Frank-N-Weenies. They called the cheese ones that too right? Before they disappeared, they introduced ones with chili AND cheese didn't they?

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Yes... yes they did. I was always pissed because the commercial showed the chili and cheese BURSTING out of the hotdog, but actually it was just a tiny bit in there :(

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

Dude! It's a HOTDOG! How much gunk do you think they could actually put IN there?

Poor grumpy-pants. Thoughts of food are supposed to make you happy! Think of deep fried Twinkies and cheer-up. (It always makes me smile anyway.)

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

Just thought of another (Is it just me or were there a LOT of snacky things in the 80's)

Banana Flips- banana flavored cake about 4" around, filled w/ banana flavored cream and folded in half. Damn I loved those things!

And let us not forget apple spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing. They've started selling those again to, but for about 10 years, there was nary a one to be found.

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I remember the Bananna Flips (they had yellow icing, right?), but do not remember the Apple Spice Cakes.

Scalding-hot deep-fried Apple Pie from McDonalds is my current favorite to remember. They just aren't as good any more now that they *bake* them, and they don't even off Cherry as a flavor any more!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

I remember the Bananna Flips (they had yellow icing, right?), but do not remember the Apple Spice Cakes.

Scalding-hot deep-fried Apple Pie from McDonalds is my current favorite to remember. They just aren't as good any more now that they *bake* them, and they don't even off Cherry as a flavor any more!

[bghsmith.livejournal.com]

Just thought of another (Is it just me or were there a LOT of snacky things in the 80's)

Banana Flips- banana flavored cake about 4" around, filled w/ banana flavored cream and folded in half. Damn I loved those things!

And let us not forget apple spice cupcakes with cream cheese icing. They've started selling those again to, but for about 10 years, there was nary a one to be found.