Remember when a fancy dinner party meant vol-au-vents and devilled eggs, followed by a perfectly wobbly trifle? Those classic 70s dishes are making a serious comeback, and it's not just about reminiscing over the good old days.
With grocery prices soaring across Australia, many of us are rediscovering that our parents and grandparents knew a thing or two about stretching the food budget without sacrificing flavour.
The average Australian now spends $213.64 on groceries every week—that's an 11.5 per cent increase or an extra $21.98 weekly compared to early 2024, adding up to an additional $1,142.96 annually.
For those on fixed incomes, these increases hit particularly hard, making the simple, economical meals of yesteryear look increasingly appealing.
The restaurant world is catching on too
This isn't just a home kitchen phenomenon. Restaurants across Australia are embracing the trend, with venues like Marrickville Beer & Leisure Centre featuring '80s classics including spring rolls, prawn crackers, crispy skin chicken, sweet and sour pork, and fried rice.
Melbourne's Di Stasio Pizzeria in Carlton showcases strong '70s vibes with terrazzo flooring, retro furniture, and a menu featuring pure Italian comfort food.
The trend extends beyond individual restaurants. Australia's dining scene is exploring elevated comfort food as one of the biggest trends taking over in 2025, suggesting that what we're seeing isn't just nostalgic whimsy but a genuine shift in how we approach food.
'This isn't just about a wave of culinary nostalgia. It's about the reality of grocery prices'
The numbers tell the story
While Baby Boomers spend the least on groceries at $170 per week, compared to younger generations, more than half of seniors are feeling the pinch of rising costs, with pensions covering just 76 per cent of monthly expenses on average.
Food price increases between January 2024 and January 2025 range from 3 per cent for bread to 12.3 per cent for fruit, making those simple, one-pot meals from the 70s look like brilliant budget solutions rather than just nostalgic choices.
Australian grocery price increases 2024-2025
Fruit: up 12.3 per cent
Eggs: up 19.1 per cent (due to avian flu)
Vegetables: up 4.6 per cent
Bread: up 3 per cent
Overall food inflation: 4.6 per cent
The classics that make cents
Financial expert Gemma Mitchell, author of The Money Reset, isn't surprised that retro dishes are staging a comeback. 'Many are finding themselves gravitating back to those simple, low-cost meals that stretch a dollar further,' she explains.
'We're seeing more 'one-pot wonders' instead of multiple-course meals, cheaper protein swaps, and making pantry staples the hero, not the backup.'
Curried prawns: Simple and satisfying
Take curried prawns—not the restaurant version with exotic ingredients, but the one your grandmother made with school prawns, curry powder, and frozen peas. The addition of fruit chutney to curry is what makes it so nostalgic, creating that creamy sweet-savoury combination that takes you right back to childhood.
Vol-au-vents: The ultimate party pleaser
Vol-au-vents gained popularity partly due to sounding French and therefore posh, generally coming with creamy seafood filling, though variations were endless. Their adaptability means they need to make a major comeback.
The beauty lies in buying pre-made pastry cases and creating simple, affordable fillings from whatever's in your pantry.
Rissoles: Australia's answer to comfort
Every culture has their version of meatballs—in Italy they have polpette, in Greece keftedes, and in Australia we have rissoles. These juicy little spiced patties can be cooked on the barbie or stovetop. They're economical, filling, and perfect for using up vegetables that need using.
Beyond the main course
The 70s weren't just about economical mains. In 2025, nostalgic foods are making a big comeback, proving that some things never go out of style. Desserts like trifle, pineapple upside-down cake, and that coffee cake topped with walnuts all used pantry staples to create impressive endings to meals.
Even Nigella Lawson has embraced the trend, sharing her devilled eggs recipe on Instagram, writing: 'I cannot begin to tell you how good these are. Yes, they are retro, but they are no culinary exercise in irony.'
Budget-friendly 70s cooking tips for today
- Shop the catalogues first—buy specials at different supermarkets
- Use apps like Frugl to find the best deals
- Make one-pot meals that stretch ingredients
- Use pantry staples as heroes, not fillers
- Buy pre-made pastry cases for easy entertaining
- Embrace cheaper proteins like mince and school prawns
The comfort factor
These Australian recipes have been around for decades and are making a serious comeback as we embrace childhood comfort foods like meatloaf, sausage curry and bangers and mash. There's something deeply satisfying about returning to meals that fed families well without breaking the budget.
Fondue has made something of a comeback that's kind of fizzled, but needs turning around—dipping things in melted cheese mixed with wine should be a national pastime. These interactive, social meals remind us that good food doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.
Making it work today
The beauty of these retro dishes lies not just in their affordability, but in their adaptability. Modern cooks are updating classic recipes—using panko breadcrumbs instead of regular ones in rissoles, or serving prawn cocktail with homemade seafood sauce rather than the jarred version.
Research shows Australians are more discount-driven than ever, with 71 per cent paying attention to supermarket specials compared to 63 per cent in 2024, and a third choosing lower-priced supermarket brands over big-brand products.
This return to 70s cooking isn't about living in the past—it's about rediscovering wisdom that never went out of style. When your grandmother made curried prawns or whipped up a batch of rissoles, she wasn't just feeding the family; she was demonstrating that good food comes from making the most of what you have.
A trend with staying power
With close to 7 in 10 pensioners not believing the aged pension alone will cover living costs, and only 1 in 10 feeling confident about their financial future, the practical wisdom of 70s cooking becomes more relevant than ever.
This revival isn't just a passing fad—it's a practical response to economic pressures, wrapped in the comfort of familiar flavours. Whether you're hosting friends for vol-au-vents or making a simple curried prawn dinner for two, these recipes prove that the best solutions often come from looking back while moving forward.
What's your favourite dish from the 70s that deserves a comeback? Have you found yourself returning to the simple, budget-friendly meals of decades past, or discovered a new appreciation for these classic comfort foods? Share your memories and modern adaptations in the comments below.
Original Article
https://kitchen.nine.com.au/latest/...comeback/5db86946-c948-4146-b8c5-cc92f24703dc
Supermarket spending shock: Aussies forking out $1k more a year compared to 2024 on groceries | Compare the Market
Cited text: The research found that the average Aussie now spends $213.64 on groceries every week, equal to an 11.5 per cent increase or an extra $21.98 weekly compared t...
Excerpt: The average Australian now spends $213.64 on groceries every week—that's an 11.5 per cent increase or an extra $21.98 weekly compared to early 2024, adding up to an additional $1,142.96 annually
https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/news/how-much-australians-spend-on-groceries-2025/
Retro Food is the Biggest Dining Trend in Australia Right Now | Travel Insider
Cited text: At this new Marrickville Beer & Leisure Centre, the ’80s are everything, from the RSL-style tables and chairs to the Aussie-Chinese restaurant dubbed ...
Excerpt: Restaurants across Australia are embracing the trend, with venues like Marrickville Beer & Leisure Centre featuring '80s classics including spring rolls, prawn crackers, crispy skin chicken, sweet and sour pork, and fried rice
https://www.qantas.com/travelinsider/en/eat-and-drink/retro-food-trend-australia.html
Retro Food is the Biggest Dining Trend in Australia Right Now | Travel Insider
Cited text: The Di Stasio name is synonymous in Melbourne with old-fashioned excellence in Italian cuisine and that continues at the group’s newest venue, Di Stas...
Excerpt: Melbourne's Di Stasio Pizzeria in Carlton showcases strong '70s vibes with terrazzo flooring, retro furniture, and a menu featuring pure Italian comfort food
https://www.qantas.com/travelinsider/en/eat-and-drink/retro-food-trend-australia.html
The Biggest Food Trends Taking Over Australia in 2025 | Travel Insider
Cited text: From elevated comfort food to Filipino cuisine and native ingredients, Australia’s dining scene is exploring new horizons in 2025.
Excerpt: Australia's dining scene is exploring elevated comfort food as one of the biggest trends taking over in 2025
https://www.qantas.com/travelinsider/en/eat-and-drink/food-trends-australia-2025.html
The average cost of groceries per month
Cited text: Baby boomers spend the least each week at $170, followed by Gen X at $190, Gen Z at $222, and Gen Y at $227 per week.
Excerpt: While Baby Boomers spend the least on groceries at $170 per week
https://www.finder.com.au/budgeting/average-grocery-bill
The Cost of Living Longer Report 2024 | Australian Seniors
Cited text: More than half (55 per cent) of us are feeling the pinch of the rising cost of living, finding it increasingly difficult to manage our expenses on a pension.
Excerpt: more than half of seniors are feeling the pinch of rising costs, with pensions covering just 76 per cent of monthly expenses on average
https://www.seniors.com.au/news-ins...iors-series-cost-of-living-longer-report-2024
The Cost of Living Longer Report 2024 | Australian Seniors
Cited text: On average, pensions cover just 76 per cent of monthly expenses, with a significant 68 per cent of that income going towards essentials like housing, utilities, and g...
Excerpt: more than half of seniors are feeling the pinch of rising costs, with pensions covering just 76 per cent of monthly expenses on average
https://www.seniors.com.au/news-ins...iors-series-cost-of-living-longer-report-2024
The average cost of groceries per month
Cited text: If we look at just groceries, price increases between January 2024 and January 2025 range from 3 per cent for bread to 12.3 per cent for fruit.
Excerpt: Food price increases between January 2024 and January 2025 range from 3 per cent for bread to 12.3 per cent for fruit
https://www.finder.com.au/budgeting/average-grocery-bill
Average Grocery Bill | Australian Living Costs—Canstar Blue
Cited text: Eggs were the hardest hit by supply issues over the past 12 months, with the avian flu driving up the price by 19.1 per cent , according to the Australian Bur...
Excerpt: • Overall food inflation: 4.6 per cent
https://www.canstarblue.com.au/groceries/average-grocery-bill/
6 nostalgic dinner classics making a comeback | Cook Free Recipes from Australia's Best Brands | myfoodbook
Cited text: The addition of fruit chutney to this curry is what makes it so nostalgic. Creamy sweet-savoury curry topped with crispy rice will take you right back...
Excerpt: The addition of fruit chutney to curry is what makes it so nostalgic, creating that creamy sweet-savoury combination that takes you right back to childhood
https://myfoodbook.com.au/tips/6-nostalgic-dinner-classics-making-a-comeback
Dishes from the 70s that need to make a comeback | YourLifeChoices
Cited text: Probably a lot of their original popularity was due to sounding French, and therefore a tad posh. Generally, they came with some sort of creamy seafoo...
Excerpt: Vol-au-vents gained popularity partly due to sounding French and therefore posh, generally coming with creamy seafood filling, though variations were endless.
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/food-recipes/dishes-from-the-70s-that-need-to-make-a-comeback/
6 nostalgic dinner classics making a comeback | Cook Free Recipes from Australia's Best Brands | myfoodbook
Cited text: ... Every culture has their version of meatballs. In Italy they have polpette, in Greece they have keftedes, and in Australia we have rissoles. These ...
Excerpt: Every culture has their version of meatballs—in Italy they have polpette, in Greece keftedes, and in Australia we have rissoles.
https://myfoodbook.com.au/tips/6-nostalgic-dinner-classics-making-a-comeback
15 Nostalgic 70s Foods to Try for a Taste of Childhood—Food and Wine with Love
Cited text: And in 2025, they’re making a big comeback, proving that some things never go out of style.
Excerpt: In 2025, nostalgic foods are making a big comeback, proving that some things never go out of style
https://foodandwinewithlove.com.au/blog/nostalgic-70s-foods/
The average cost of groceries per month
Cited text: I always look at the Woolies and Coles catalogues first, and I'll go and buy what's on special at each, then I get the essentials at Aldi.
Excerpt: • Shop the catalogues first—buy specials at different supermarkets
https://www.finder.com.au/budgeting/average-grocery-bill
Grocery price predictions for 2025: Experts’ insights | YourLifeChoices
Cited text: To combat these rising costs, Mortimer recommends taking advantage of discounts when they’re available and using apps like Frugl to find the best deal...
Excerpt: • Use apps like Frugl to find the best deals
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/finance/grocery-price-predictions-for-2025-experts-insights/
6 nostalgic dinner classics making a comeback | Cook Free Recipes from Australia's Best Brands | myfoodbook
Cited text: From the 70s and beyond, these Australian recipes have been around for decades, and they're making a serious comeback. We're ready to embrace all our ...
Excerpt: These Australian recipes have been around for decades and are making a serious comeback as we embrace childhood comfort foods like meatloaf, sausage curry and bangers and mash
https://myfoodbook.com.au/tips/6-nostalgic-dinner-classics-making-a-comeback
Dishes from the 70s that need to make a comeback | YourLifeChoices
Cited text: This has made something of a comeback, but it’s kind of fizzled and we need to turn that around. Dipping things in melted cheese mixed with wine shoul...
Excerpt: Fondue has made something of a comeback that's kind of fizzled, but needs turning around—dipping things in melted cheese mixed with wine should be a national pastime
https://www.yourlifechoices.com.au/food-recipes/dishes-from-the-70s-that-need-to-make-a-comeback/
Average Grocery Bill | Australian Living Costs—Canstar Blue
Cited text: In line with the cost at the checkout growing, Canstar Blue’s research indicates Aussies are more discount-driven than they were a year ago and are ta...
Excerpt: Research shows Australians are more discount-driven than ever, with 71 per cent paying attention to supermarket specials compared to 63 per cent in 2024, and a third choosing lower-priced supermarket brands over big-brand products
https://www.canstarblue.com.au/groceries/average-grocery-bill/
The Cost of Living Longer Report 2024 | Australian Seniors
Cited text: It's no surprise that close to 7 in 10 pensioners (69 per cent) don't believe the aged pension alone will be enough to cover their living costs. Sadly, a mere...
Excerpt: With close to 7 in 10 pensioners not believing the aged pension alone will cover living costs, and only 1 in 10 feeling confident about their financial future
https://www.seniors.com.au/news-ins...iors-series-cost-of-living-longer-report-2024
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