What a decade, the fluro, the cool dancing, the big hair, the awesome toys and crazy food. Let’s go back in time, in film and in food to a decade where memories were made then shoved into the nostalgia folder. Here are my top 10 eighties movies paired with rad food!
Top 10 Eighties movies
10.Flashdance (1983)
This is a classic with a killer soundtrack. It’s a woman in a man’s world – Alex (girl) is a welder in a steel mill but dreams of being a fully fledged dancer on the professional circuit. She falls for her big boss, gives up performing as an exotic dancer and decides to audition for the Pittsburgh Conservatory of Dance and Repertory but gets scared then does her awesome audition with a fabbo soundtrack. It’s a great scene. Love it.
9.Beaches (1988)
I had to put this one on the list. I’ve seen it um… too many times to count. It’s so sad, I don’t know why I love it so much. It’s all about friendship lasting a lifetime through thick and thin, through relationship breakdowns and kids, careers, success and awful failures. Bette Midler is sensational as the vain songstress and Barbara Hershey as the boring lawyer-type. Have you seen it? You must. It’s lovely-sad-soppy-beautiful.
8.Ghostbusters (1984)
Freak me out baby! This was the first truly scary movie I ever saw, especially that first scene with the freaky granny ghost in the library. Oh and when Sigourney Weaver’s character is possessed and those horrible dog statues come to life and New York City explodes with ghosts and ghostbusters. It’s such a fun, funny, creepy movie – not sure my kids are up to seeing it yet, but I’ll sure give it another go! Love Bill Murray and the rest of the gang. What a brilliant idea.
7.Back to the Future (1985)
Time travel, romance, families, dogs, a mad professor and a teenager with hightops! Cool as. When this film was released it was pretty cutting edge. Characters became old then young, time travel was brought to life making us all wonder if we would ever really be able to do it ourselves. And Michael J. Fox went from TV star to super-duper movie star. What a dude.
6.Dirty Dancing (1987)
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen this film – I love it all – the romance, dancing, characters, music (She’s Like The Wind), the moments A”nd I owe it all to you!” (sing it!) How could you not love this movie? It stars the ridiculously cute Patrick Swayze with the young, sweet Jennifer Grey – a great combo on screen. It’s a fun, deep, romantic, addictive movie that I can’t get enough of… a cult classic.
5. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
So many famous quotes – one-liners like, “Bueller, Bueller, Bueller…” and, “When Cameron was in Egypt’s land… let my Cameron go!” and of course, “I hope he doesn’t die. I can’t handle summer school.” I love cheeky little Ferris Bueller who tricks his naive parents into giving him yet another day off school while his sister and principle try to bust his little butt. But he’s too smart, to charming to be caught, he’s Ferris and he’s cool.
4.E.T. (1982)
This is a beautiful movie. Though it is all about a weird-looking alien thing, you really grow to love him. It’s like you’re one of the family trying desperately to hide E.T from those bad scientists who want to poke and prod him – to study his life form instead of just loving the poor little thing. It’s so fun to see the eighties fashion and decor and, of course, a tiny little Drew Barrymore. You must see it. Get out your tissues.
3. TheBreakfast Club (1985)
The brat pack stars in this super-cool movie about a bunch of school misfits who have a Saturday detention in the same boring old library with the same idiotic teacher looking in on them from time to time. They all represent a clique in the school: the nerd, the jock, the rebel, the goth, the pretty girl and they have nothing in common… or do they? By the end they’ve bonded through their moments of vulnerability where they connect and nothing will ever be the same. Classic.
2.Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
More action than you can poke a stick at, more manly, sweaty scenes with near-misses with massive rolling stones and a pit full of snakes. Eeek. This is a great adventure movie through exotic places with memorable characters… another awesome Han Solo…ahem… I mean Harrison Ford film with heart, history and humour! Check it out.
1.Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
We must include a Star Wars movie in this list… just one and this is my all-time favourite, probably because of the cute little bears and the closure at the end. I love closure. The battle between good and evil, dark and not-so-dark sides, comes to a climax in this film with Luke facing his father and the other ‘goodies’ taking on the dopey men in white plastic with a positive outcome. It’s a keeper, a classic and if you haven’t seen it (and I know some who haven’t) then do it, watch it… NOW!
Food
One dish that sticks out in my mind as an 80s classic has to be Ambrosia Salad. It seemed like every barbeque we went to there it was, staring up at me with its weird eyes, insisting that yes, it was in fact a salad, when nary a lettuce leaf was to be seen. Or eaten. No, in fact this dish has more in common with a humble 80s dessert than a side. But, hey, who’s to question the 80s? Not me. Give it a go. Click through and try this beautiful (how pretty is it) Ambrosia Salad recipe from Preppy Kitchen.
Note: Thanks to Brian from Preppy Kitchen for permission to feature this stunning image and link to his amazing recipe.
More fab films with matching food right here…
*The Helpmovie matched with recipes from the South
*The Karate Kidfilm paired with Chinese food by a 9-year-old
* 6 best Hawaiian films paired with Polynesian food
