Culture
Food History
10 Vintage Appetizers From The '50s That Need To Make A Comeback By Jay Wilson Nov. 16, 2025 6:19 pm EST
Lauripatterson/Getty Images
Some things were just done a little bit better in the old days, and one of those things was appetizers. Nowadays, appetizers can feel as though they fall into the same territory over and over again: You're either serving little pieces of deep-fried beige food, hastily assembling fussy little tarts that are gone in seconds, or shoving a bowl of chips on the table.
Back in the '50s, though, appetizers were a sight to behold. These dishes had a real ambition to them, and married a generosity of spirit and flavor with surprising diversity. They also had a real sense of drama to them. A lot of this came from the time period, of

Daily Meal

FOX 32 Chicago Lifestyle
NewsChannel 5 Nashville
AlterNet
The List
The Texas Tribune Crime
Yard Barker Sports
Tom's Guide