During the COVID-19 lockdown, I hoarded a lot of kitchen utensils that I only used once or twice and kept in the back of my cupboard. One of the items lurking among the mismatched Tupperware is a rather expensive chip pan, a deep fryer made of stainless steel with a whopping 3 liter capacity and complete with a viewing window. I live with another person, not in a lesbian community, but I don't understand why I thought I needed such a large community. In fact, I have no idea why this was necessary.
The back of the cupboard is stuffed with a SodaStream, a coffee percolator, and an electric carving knife.
Then there are the pasta makers and auxiliary equipment like ravioli tablets that I couldn't resist buying. drying rack. A set of rollers and cutters. I've only used it once, but it fills up my cupboard.
Before you judge me for being a money-wasting brat with an Amazon Prime habit, remember that the restaurant was closed for what felt like an eternity and I missed decent fries and homemade pasta. . But both were disasters. This was a tough task as the fries were soggy and burnt at the same time. Also, the pasta looked (and tasted) like it exploded in a wool factory.
The thing that bothers me most about my collection of kitchenware is that they all look like they're from the 1970s. The back of my cupboard is stuffed with a SodaStream, a coffee percolator, and an electric carving knife. These are emblematic of the kitchens of aspiring working-class women in the 1970s, acquired from the Grattan catalogue, and never overpriced. Such gadgets were often displayed to impress visitors and were never used.
Other items that were popular in 1970s kitchens included toasted sandwich makers, pressure cookers, handheld whisks, SodaStreams, and spice racks. All of these are in my possession, and the egg slicer remains unused as well. But maybe I'm just ahead of the game and totally on trend. Big department stores such as John Lewis say 1970s kitsch is making a huge comeback, and that includes not only decor but also food.
luxury magazine Country life Last year, we told you that 1970s kitchen wallpaper was creeping onto the market. Additionally, the terracotta floor tiles, which were all the rage when I was a student, and the hostess wagons used by women (because I never saw men around) meant that entire menus, such as Sunday roasts, could be prepared in advance. I was there. Leave to simmer on a hot plate well in advance. By the time lunch was served, the gravy had to be sliced and the vegetables were soggy. That electric chisel will come in handy for slicing rock-hard beef.
While trolleys don't seem to be making a comeback, steamers, teasmaids, and even yogurt makers are coming back in fashion with cool vintage styles. Waitrose also said it had recently seen a significant increase in sales of classic classics such as prawn cocktail, arctic rolls, chicken Kiev and angel delight. The supermarket chain has also seen an increase in searches for retro dinner party recipes on its website since lockdown. I started making the jelly, but instead of water, I mixed it with prosecco or margarita and topped it with fresh coconut and caramelized pineapple.
One of the most popular dishes at fancy dinner parties in the 1970s was cheese fondue. It's a terrifying combination of bubbly cheese and gin. Some restaurants have had fondue on their menus for decades, such as St. Moritz in London's Soho, but I hate fondue. So why would I have to set up an entire fondue set in my already messy basement? I think I might have a car boot sale this weekend. Anyone nostalgic for Fray Bentos placemats?
