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15 Foods We Used To Eat That Seem To Have Disappeared

15 Foods We Used To Eat That Seem To Have Disappeared
Carly Jacobs
I

was looking up dinner ideas in a very old low-carb cook book the other day and every second recipe required sun dried tomatoes. I was weirdly outraged. When was the last time you ate a sun dried tomato? Me? I’d say it’s been at least six or seven years, which is really sad because they’re bloody delicious. I also didn’t consciously stop eating them, it’s like the universe stopped showing them to me. Naturally I had to write a whole list of foods that seem to have vanished from the modern dining ta-ble. Some I’m sad about – nachos. Some are no great loss to the culinary world – black forrest cake. I’m not even sure if these foods have properly disappeared or whether it’s my own confirmation bias but I do like to crowd source for information like this. Here’s my list of foods we used to eat that we don’t seem to eat anymore.

Black forest cake isolated on white

1. Sun dried tomatoes

There was stage during my teen years where you could scarcely buy a bread roll that wasn’t dotted with sun dried tomato flecks. Sun dried tomato was even a popular salty snack flavour. Where did they go? Why did we stop eating them? Won’t some-one think of the children?

2. Focaccia

Basically a thick, rosemary entrusted fancy style sandwich. We do sour dough bagels now or sprouted grain spelt bread. Where do you even buy focaccia these days?

3. Ceaser salads

I always thought ceasar salads were gross and a waste of calories (why on earth would you put bacon and cream on lettuce?) but I’ve noticed that they’re difficult to find these days. Which is good for people like me who hate them.

4. BBQ chicken pizza

I tried to order a BBQ chicken pizza at a fancy pizza and joint and they were like ‘No. We don’t have BBQ sauce.’ I’ve never experienced such rudeness in my life.

5. Nachos

Honestly when was the last time you ate nachos? Was it so long ago you can’t even remember? Let us ALL eat nachos today for it is excellent.

6. Eggs Benedict

I used to love a cheeky eggs benny but I think the world figured out that everyone’s hearts would be in serious danger if we continued to casually pour a week’s worth calories in the form of sauce over our breakfasts. Fuck you hollandaise and your stupid delicious creamy face.

7. Quiche

I don’t know if quiche is actually gone or whether it just started calling itself frittata but I haven’t had a slice of quiche in quite a while. Oh god. Did frittata kill quiche and take it’s place without us even knowing about it?

8. Black forrest cake

Not a huge loss to the dessert world but I haven’t seen any black forrest cake around in a while. I’ve never ordered it ever. Maybe that’s why.

9. French onion dip made from soup mix

Personally I think this one is a tragedy. It is literally salt mixed into saturated fat but so is cheese and cheese is still a thing. It’s discrimination and I won’t stand for it any longer.

10. Refried bean dip

My mother was so obsessed with refried bean dip, we had a special crockery pot that was known as the ‘bean dip pot’. We’re super creative with naming things in the Smaggle house. This dip was served hot and it looked like grey vomit and didn’t actually taste much better but we all pretended to love it. I think this one can stay buried.

11. Apricot flavoured meat dishes

In the 90s many a parent thought that if they dumped a can of apricot nectar on any chunk of meat it immediately became fancy. It did not. It became bogan and inedi-ble. Apricot flavoured meats can stay forgotten thank you very much.

12. Jus

I very rarely go to fancy restaurants but I noticed it’s been a while since I’ve had an-ything with ‘jus’. I love jus. Raspberry jus. Truffle jus. Balsamic jus. Bring back the jus people. I like it much better than all this fancy ‘dust’ that’s happening at the moment. No one likes dust. Just call it crumbs like a normal person.

13. Bruschetta

Technically I still eat bruschetta (tomatoes on toast is one of my favourite things in the world) but I haven’t seen it on a menu in ages. And it’s bloody good. Someone tell the restaurants to fix this please.

14. Cheesecake

Remember when there were actual shops that only sold cheesecake? Isn’t that the weirdest sentence you’ve ever read?

15. Friands

To be fair, these are still around but only because they’re usually made from almond meal so they’re gluten free. Without the whole GF trend, I highly doubt they would have re-surfaced.

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What foods did you used to eat that you don’t really eat any more? Do you agree with any of these? Or am I just over thinking it?

 

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50 Comments

  1. Nicole (@dorkabrain) 8 years ago

    I feel like a good portion of these don’t apply to the US because I see them everywhere. Eggs Bendict is a breakfast/brunch staple. Also, the Cheesecake factory restaurant, where you eat a huge ok meal, just to get to an equally huge slice of cheesecake. I do remember the cheesecake store you’re referring to though, it became our go-to growing up for birthday cakes after my family went from a one income household to a two income household.
    Also, I think maybe your mum just didn’t make a good refried bean dip, because that stuff can – sometimes – be delicious!

    • Nicole (@dorkabrain) 8 years ago

      *benedict. I just got off my third phone call to a customer service line in two days and my brain is just mush at this point.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      My mother will kill you if she here’s you say that! I think I just didn’t like it – I was a much fussier eater back then! I totally don’t think any of this applies to the US – it’s full of comfort food!

      • Anonymous 4 months ago

        STFU

  2. Lauren Boase 8 years ago

    Haha Adelaide must be behind the times- we still have Cheesecake shops ? although I can’t tell you the last time I went in there!!
    Something that I don’t see/hear much of anymore… tuna mornay, or any mornay really- my Ma used to make this weird mornay with chicken and canned asparagus, it was so gross!!!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      We had one on Smith Street in Fitzroy but it’s long gone. I wouldn’t even know how to buy a cheesecake these days – isn’t that pathetic? I do live in hipsterville though so it’s difficult to get anything that isn’t encrusted with quinoa.

  3. Lisa 8 years ago

    I don’t know. I still see a lot of that stuff around. But, unrelated, you know what’s good? Grilled cheese. But not grilled cheese on toast – just dump a handful of grated cheese in a fry pan and cook till delicious and crunchy. So good.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Oh my god that sounds incredible. I have never done that before but now I really want to do that.

  4. chrisatpb 8 years ago

    1, 5, 7, 8 and 14 have never left our place. I am sorry, but my version of Black Forest cake is a highly requested birthday cake in our family. Nachos is a semi regular snack and at least once a week we have spinach feta and sundried tomato salad (well, semi sundried, lite). Quiche is a favourite but not on high rotation because it is a frenchfest of fat deliciousness – cream, pastry, bacon, egg. Clearly, I am stuck I a time warp. xx

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I can’t stand black forrest cake. Never have. It’s just flavours that don’t mix well for me. I could possibly be persuaded to taste yours though! These are just things I haven’t even seen for ages! It’s so bizarre I seem to be the only one.

  5. DameChandra Crowther 8 years ago

    Yes and eggs benedicts are still everywhere here! Except my pet hate is restaurants who put spinach on them and DON’T call them eggs Florentine! There is a difference folks!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I’m actually going to start a blog called Cafe’s That Don’t Have Eggs Benedict. It’s a whole thing. I’ve eaten at 6 cafes in the last week and none of them had Eggs Benedict on the menu.

  6. DameChandra Crowther 8 years ago

    Plus i totally agree with you about the universe no longer offering us things…i see (or dont see this all the time) that is why I buy jars of sun and semi dried tomatoes and make Nachos at home!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      That’s it! None of this stuff has been presented to me in ages.

  7. Alix 8 years ago

    You totally need to hang out our licensed clubs (aka RSLs) more – that’s where all this food has gone!!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I don’t have one near me! I think that’s the problem! 🙂

  8. Ella 8 years ago

    I’m in Melbourne and you basically just listed my diet haha. These are all things i’Ve eaten in the last fortnight.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      That’s so weird! I do live in a very trendy suburb so unless this stuff is wrapped in kale and kissed by angels most ages won’t serve it.

  9. Steph 8 years ago

    Ok so im not sure if this is because of the fact that you live in Trendy Melbourne and I live in the Boganville edge of Brisbane but I see/eat most of these regularly. I haven’t seen focacia for a while though. ..maybe more paninis now. My husband gets eggs benedict like every weekend and I order bruschetta everywhere!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I definitely think it’s the trendy Melbourne thing. Although lots of this stuff till exists in suburban Melbourne so I think that’s where all this food is hanging out!

  10. Georgie 8 years ago

    I mustn’t be hanging out with cool kids or I’m getting old! Sundried tomatoes still live at our place, quiche for quick healthy lunchbox, most amazing chicken ceaser wraps available at local cafe, pizza place still makes bbq pizza (gross, couldn’t care if it did drop off the the universe!) teenager whips up Oreo cheesecake, every other cafe offers eggs benedict for breakfast / brunch and Nachos for quick weekend meal.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I think a lot of this also has to do with the fact that I have the slowest metabolism in the world so I haven’t sought out or made nachos in years because it’s too delicious. I love sundried tomatoes but my local supermarket doesn’t have them all the time!

  11. Reannon 8 years ago

    I still eat heaps of these! I make oven dried tomatoes every summer & I still have about 4 jars stored in the pantry. Caesar salad is one of my favourites & I make it every week over spring/summer. We still have nachos in my house too, the kids love it! Bruschetta is another favourite & funnily enough quiche is on my menu plan for tonight! I do prefer mini quiche because the egg to pastry ratio is more to my liking #pastry4lyf

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I have home made bruschetta but I haven’t seen it on menus in ages. I see frittata in cafes but not good old fashioned quiche! I think I’m going to the wrong cafes.

  12. Focaccia I don’t think you can even buy it any more!!! Oh and Carly as a mum of three kids we still use apricot nectar to make dinners fancy lol xoxo

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Ha! What do you put it on? Even the smell of it makes me nauseous! Where would you even find focaccia these days?

      • Apricot chicken nothing like a packet of french onion soup, tin of apricot nectar and chicken and usually some veggies like carrot and broc all into the slow cooker serve on pasta with sour cream stirred through it.

        I don’t know where you can buy focaccia I used to get it from woolies and make THE best toasted sandwiches but I think turkish bread has replaced focaccia …

  13. niki 8 years ago

    I LOVE black forest cake and order whenever I can, which isn’t often in Sydney. But Nachos are everywhere in Sydney. I eat them at least once a month I feel!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I live in healthy hipster-ville. Corn chips are banned everywhere except mexican restaurants.

  14. KezUnprepared 8 years ago

    I still see a lot of these things around the place! Maybe it’s just where I live (we’re catching up with the times – promise!) haha. I do remember making apricot chicken a few times when Mr Unprepared and I moved in together – don’t think he was a fan haha. Now that’s one dish that has definitely disappeared!
    I am stoked to see less caesar salads too. There are so many more delicious salads to be had than caesar! x

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      And caesar salads are just creamy and gross. I’d rather have a meat pie – they’re pretty much equivalent calories!

  15. Harlow 8 years ago

    I’m going to well and truly show my bogan roots here, but growing up in the 90s and 00s we had apricot chicken for dinner every week – as did all of my friends. I actually got a weird craving for it the other day so I might be making apricot chicken next week! It has some sort of nostalgic appeal for me. I also really miss friands, like a lot! My mother used to bake them all the time growing up and the other day I finally rounded up all of the ingredients to make my own – only to be unable to find the correct baking molds to bake them in. I was totes devo. Going to keep looking because friands are the bomb.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      See I’m surrounded by them, they’re very trendy around my part I know lots of suburbs are quite friend-less! I couldn’t eat apricot flavoured chicken if I tried. Bergh!

  16. Ash 8 years ago

    Living in Europe foccaccia, bruschetta and sundried tomatoes sort of fall under italy a bit, so they are there, and black forest cake is still a thing in cake shops. So is cheesecake – you can order it in most restaurants, posh ones. Eggs benny never left, friands = French, what would life be without nachos at a mexican restaurant. All alive and well except the apricot chicken. Nigella has an awesome recipe for an up to date version of that bean dip by the way, everyone noms it.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Oh I should try that Nigella dip! I’ve heard my mum’s dip was actually yummy but I think I just personally didn’t like it. I do think this is based on the 1km radius around my house – literally none of these things exist around here. Or near where I work in Windsor. It’s so funny isn’t it?

  17. Mary J 8 years ago

    Yes – some of these foods are basically still rocking the suburbs of Sydney too! The Cheesecake Shop still exists even in the East. A pub bistro would close down if caesar salads and nachos went off the menu for good!! Haven’t seen a sundried tomato as an ingredient on a menu lately – perhaps because I was never a huge fan.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      I think they’re very suburban, RSL style foods!

  18. scar 8 years ago

    Dude, move to London, we have all bar three of these everywhere!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      They do seem to be far more European than Australian!

  19. Tina 8 years ago

    I’ve got a few more to add – savoury crepes with a creamy filling, Devon and tomato sauce sandwiches, cabanossi on a cheese platter, cream apple turnovers, (your French onion dip) in a cob loaf.

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      You are are god damn genius! Yes! Cabanossi! Devon and tomato sauce sandwiches. That’s the spirit!

  20. Missy D 8 years ago

    Yeah soz, I see all but two of things everywhere on a daily basis. 😛 I buy sundried tomatoes every week. The only things I don’t see are French Onion and apricot meats… I’m kind of glad those two things died out.

  21. tinawheeze 8 years ago

    Nachos is totally my go-to pub food – still available in all good pubs!

    • Author
      Carly Jacobs 8 years ago

      Ah! I don’t really go to pubs – maybe that’s the issue?

  22. JulesG 8 years ago

    My partner implemented Nachos Thursday, complete with Homer singing the Nacho Man song. We looked for more hand-made salsa options or made our own. I recently had to ban it as it was too delicious …..

  23. Carli Saw 8 years ago

    Sorry Carly but you may need to get outside Fitzroy more often (as much as I love the food in that area and miss not living closeby). A lot of those are available readily and ordered regularly in our house. I think my mum may be the only one that still makes the French Onion dip.

  24. Erin 8 years ago

    9. French onion dip made from soup mix – AHAHA. I work in the Pubic Service in an office full of middle aged women. This one comes out for every morning tea, and I couldn’t be happier!

  25. Brett Verney 8 years ago

    I live in Brisbane, Australia and eat the vast majority of these all the time! I originally thought the article was a joke. Must just be an American thing…

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