I am very excited to announce a temporary change in programming here at Mid-Century Menu! Over the next couple of weeks, Emily Marshall, the food stylist from the new ABC series “The Astronaut Wives Club” is going to be partnering with me on a series of posts to share some behind-the-scenes photos of the mid-century food she re-created every week for the filming of the show! Emily had a blast doing the mid-century themed food styling, with a little help from some vintage cookbooks and Mid-Century Menu, so she decided to get in touch with me to share some of the great dishes she whipped up, and to answer some questions for all of you!
According to Emily, she has always had a fascination with vintage cookbooks. A few years ago she picked up a Joys of Jell-O book at a garage sale for a quarter, and ended up reading it from cover to cover. After that, she picked up vintage cookbooks here and there and ultimately ended up making collages and altered art out of the amazing pictures. But she always felt guilty cutting them up, more than any other ephemera.
She is trained as a visual artist and loved making props, so when the prop master from “The Astronaut Wives Club” asked her if she would be interested in trying to re-create some mid-century food for the show, she was thrilled and excited. And the rest is Technicolor mid-century food history.
Food, especially pot luck food, plays an enormous roll in the show. The club from the title was actually a support-group club, where the wives of the astronauts would all gather together to have a potluck meal during the space launches. These “Launch Parties” get a lot of screen time in the show, and so does Emily’s food!
In the upcoming weeks, we are going to take a closer look at many of the dishes Emily made, hear about how she re-created them for filming under hot lights, and share with you the actual vintage recipes they are based off of! In the meantime, be sure to catch “The Astronaut Wives Club” Thursday at 8:00 pm on ABC to see all of Emily’s hard work!
I am drooling over the kitchenware! (I spot Pyrex!)
This looks like a great series, can’t wait to read it – or for the show!
Oooh! This is so exciting! I can’t wait! 🙂 I can’t wait for the show either. 🙂
I read in EW about the food styling. I’m excited to tune in and am looking forward to reading the accompanying posts!
Along the same lines, it’s worth reading the Feeding Hannibal blog—it’s the food stylist from that show. Amazing work.
I know! The pictures she’s sent me are amazing – they did a great job with props. Can’t wait to share them all!
It IS so exciting! 🙂
Yay! Glad you are excited. 🙂
And thanks for the recommendation for the other food stylist – talking to Emily has made me appreciate their work even more!
Looking forward to following this! I loved the book!
How exciting!! I have really been looking forward to this show. I never thought about how food would play a part of it. I can’t wait to hear more about it !
Wow wow wow! That is exciting. I’m already transfixed by the tower o’ olives and shrimp. That and the meatloaf(?) wearing the American cheese suit could have a show of their own.
Awesome! And how exciting that she’s sharing her experiences (and photos) with you! I’ll definitely be staying tuned 🙂
Oh and FINALLY a showcase for the ‘frosted loaf’! What’s not to love??
you cannot imagine the quantity of pyrex on this job. the stuff was coming out my ears!
What fun! I want you to show that green jello on the buffet better and maybe the recipe?
Oh my gosh……SO excited about these posts….I am kind of dying over this show!
I can’t wait! The show looks amazing.
omg!! this is so fantastic 🙂
I have the book and have loved reading it so I am very excited to watch the series. I will especially enjoy the food scenes, now, knowing the background for them.
that is a tuna loaf!
that is lime jello with whipped cream, I mixed in sliced almonds and filled the center with cottage cheese and pineapples. while I did not actually taste it, I bet it was tasty. I love a whipped cream jello mold.
you guys, this is emily. and I am SO SO pumped to be here, I love midcenturymenu.com!
Oh my gosh! When I was watching the show last night, I kept thinking, “this is like watching Mid Century Menu.” (Great job, Emily–loved seeing all the food.)
I just watched the show last night and noticed mayo being mixed with jello! I’ve stalked your blog for a long time and I just had to jump on this morning to see if anyone had commented. I can’t wait to see what’s coming up. Thanks to you and Tom for midcentury menu. I love it!
The pink dessert with the cherries on top is so pretty! Can’t wait to find out the recipe
Is that a salmon mousse in the shape of a salmon?
indeed it is, Erik. Indeed it is.
SO cool. The pot luck ham table looks like my aunt’s Christmas dinners from the mid 1960s. 🙂
I remember my aunts doing very strange things with Jello back then.
I love my job, but now I’m jealous of this one. What a hoot to recreate these gems!