If you can be a part of a dinner club, go for it. Bill and I have been in a fabulous dinner club for over 4 years now. It is a fantastic and fun way to make new friends, connect with old friends, try new recipes, and enjoy a night of great conversation. Our group consists of 5 couples that come together, each hosting once a year, for a night of good food and tons of laughs. 
It was recently my turn to host and since I’ve done the sit down al fresco dinners before, this time around I wanted to shake things up. I decided to go retro and get us on our feet for a dinner party inspired by the trends of the 60s.
I poofed my hair, layered on the mascara, channeled my inner Jackie Kennedy, and prepared an evening of revitalized food and classic cocktails from this decade. 
Setting the tone for this swanky affair is all in the details. My friends jumped in on the theme and arrived donning fashion trends and vintage flair from the 60s. 
To start, we ditched the orange sherbert and ginger ale and sipped a Tom Collins and Elderflower punch served in a vintage bowl. Once everyone arrived, it was time to toast with some classic libations, like martinis and Manhattans.
And because cigarettes were once cool at a cocktail hour, we got in the decade’s spirit with breadsticks stuffed in candy cigarette boxes. Clearly, the ladies played the part and amused ourselves with “cigs” better than the guys.
We dipped our “cigarettes” in a Fried Scallion Dip, an updated version of the wildly popular onion dip made from a soup mix in the 60s. And those cigarette boxes each had a toast to read, both snarky and sweet, to get us all into character. 
Vintage serving pieces (thanks to my late grandmother) elevated the finger food spread. Silver pieces, tiered serving plates, and crystal relish trays adorned the table holding snacks like my Toasted Cheese and Dill Hors d’oeuvres and Easy Baked Parmesan Artichoke Bites. Betty Draper would be proud. 
Of course, no retro cocktail hour menu would be complete without some old-school appetizers like a cheese ball, fondue, and deviled eggs. Those beet dyed eggs were even topped with some fried Spam because meat in a can was all the rage.
Canned fish was a staple in the 60s too. Instead of a popular salmon mousse , I served smoked salmon creme fraiche bites on bacon. It seemed everything was “wrapped in a blanket” of bacon back then. 
Buttered peas were a mainstay side dish at the time, but for a fun twist I made my Sweet Pea Purée mixed with ginger and miso and served with rice crackers. 
Jell-O dominated the 60s so I couldn’t resist serving this Raspberry Prosecco Tulip on the table, which by the way, was incredibly delicious.
We took a break from the hors d’oeuvres, and unlike the cocktail culture of the 60s, the men and the ladies retired to the living room, where we broke out the decanters and entertained ourselves with vintage magazines and an ashtray full of candy cigarettes. 
To make sure no one ended up with a lampshade on their head, I dished up a buffet style meal too. Popular and nostalgic dinner entrees of the decade, Beef Wellington and Chicken à la King were served. Only for a modern twist, they were deconstructed and spooned onto puff pastry tarts alongside my updated 7 Layer Salad. 
For dessert, what could be more appropriate than Watergate Salad served in vintage Jello-O molds?
Throwing this type of affair where the food was prepped ahead of time and the libations were self-serve, allowed me to get out of the kitchen, circulate the room, and flirt with Don Draper my handsome husband.
Thanks to this dinner club, I get to call these hilarious, food-loving, cocktail-sipping, up-for-anything people…my friends.
Now, let’s get back to this decade where I can throw on some jeans, fire up the grill, and sip some chardonnay…being a 60s housewife is exhausting.
Are you in a dinner club?
This looks like so much fun. I love themed parties and I love that you had deviled eggs!!
Thanks, Yolanda! It was a blast!
Jen……..you had told me about the dinner party, but had no idea about the details until this. All the pics are fantastic. Great job !!!!
Dad
Thank you! It was nice to have some of mom’s recipes and Ammaw’s serving pieces.
This is so fun! My sister does 60’s dinner parties once in a while. Jello mold and all. She’d love this post!
Oh, how fun! Nothing like a retro jello mold!
This party looks amaaaaaaazing! The cigs are so clever and all the pics look straight out of the 60s! You are quite the party planner Jen!
Why thank you, my friend! I thought I’d go all out since I only host this dinner club once a year. It was so fun!
Some fab ideas and brill photos, it really looks like the 60s!
Thanks, Ciara! It was fun playing the part from this decade!
Oh my goodness, what a fun idea! I love how you went all out with this theme and it seems like everyone erally got into it!
We sure did…why not, right?!
What a cute idea for a party! I absolutely love your photos!
Thank you, Meg!
This looks like my style of hosting anyway- love it! Your pictures and clothing are awesome. The old magazines are a nice touch too. I love a themed party. Well done!
Thanks, Jennifer! It was a ton of fun!
Girl! That was one swanky shindig! I love everything you did!
Oh, yeah! Thanks!
This is such a fun theme idea! I need to host more themed parties for sure!
Why not, right?! It’s fun to get into character!
wow! I love all of this – the costumes, the fake cigareets aka breadsticks, and how did you get those magazines?!?!?! This is so great, what a fun tradition!
Thanks! It’s actually my grandfather’s collection of magazines that my mom was holding onto for years. They are so fun to explore!
Oh how fun! I LOVE that you’re in a dinner club, and with five couples – that’s five dinners a year. Love it! Your 60’s theme is great – I really like the idea of “cigarette” breadsticks.
-Lauren
Yes! It’s a blast! Word is our next host is taking us to Margaritaville! So fun!
How fun!!!!! I love theme stuff and it looks like you managed to catch all the details, that’s awesome!
Thanks, Emily!
Omg I love the candy cigs! This looks like so much fun and all the food looks delicious. I need an excuse for a 60s party!
It was too fun! No excuse…just go for it! You’ll love it!
I think this would be a blast to put on and host. Love the dresses and men in the suits. All the food look great and no paper plates anywhere to be found. So fun.
Thanks, Candy! I tried my best to make it swanky and fun!
I like everything about this post – the pics in poloraoid framing is super cute. And it looks like I am revisiting a Mad Men episode! Very neat idea, I bet the food was good too – Watergate Salad I always loved as a kid and never have it anymore 🙂
Thanks, Kate! I felt like I was in a Mad Men episode! We were hysterically laughing all night long!