This is what we ate in the 80s, part two
Everyone hit the aerobics to work off that Raider, and Michael Jackson burns his hair in a Pepsi commercial – let’s refresh your culinary memories of the eighties.
Pasta in every shape
In the seventies, we cautiously get used to elbow macaroni with ketchup; in the eighties, we go all out with pasta in every shape and size. Tubes, bows, spirals and, as the highlight: pasta tricolore, coloured pasta. Still served with some kind of wondrous red sauce with bits from a sachet, but hey, it’s a start.
The whole world at the table
Knorr has figured us out: in 1982, they launch their first world dish. Because the Dutch home cook is ready for some wild culinary experiments. Lasagne Bolognese, the first world dish, is still a bestseller in the range. New varieties hit the market at a rapid pace, referencing authentic dishes – but without being held back by authentic flavours or preparation methods. Standard ingredients, especially in the early years: chicken breast or minced meat, traffic-light peppers and a tub of crème fraîche. Who remembers chicken tandoori?
Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Take the taste test
Coca-Cola and Pepsi wage the cola war in the eighties. In all fairness: Pepsi starts it. In their Pepsi Challenge, they have people drink two glasses of cola blindfolded, and everyone chooses Pepsi. Yes, it’s an advert, all right. Coca-Cola’s sales plunge, the Coca-Cola Company temporarily changes the recipe (mistake!) and Pepsi burns Michael Jackson’s hair in a notorious commercial.
What’s that called?
In the eighties, you buy a Raider at the swimming pool or petrol station. Or a bag of Treets. Strangely enough, the name has to change at the end of the eighties: Raiders become Twix and Treets become M&M’s. Tastes the same, don’t panic.
That could be lighter
Everyone is doing aerobics like crazy and aspartame hits the market, so it’s hardly surprising that the first light soft drinks also see the light of day in the eighties. Coca-Cola light comes first, but Pepsi, Fanta and 7Up naturally follow soon after. Other light products, such as Becel Light, light crisps, light Completa and even light peanut butter, also appear in supermarkets. In America, products containing the fat substitute Olestra, such as cornflakes and crisps, are promoted by the ever-dieting Oprah Winfrey. We are interested in this in the Netherlands too, but Olestra soon disappears from the scene. It gives you extreme diarrhoea.
What do you spread on your bread?
We get creative with sandwich fillings. Move over luncheon meat, because in the eighties we can also choose sandwich spread (‘I love delicious and light, I love delicious and different’). Prefer something sweet? Then spread Duo Penotti. Peanut butter remains popular, thanks to the memorable advert featuring Petje Pitamientje.
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