Back in Time for Dinner

1960s 1 Season 2 Episode

In this second episode, the family and their home are transported to the space-age 60s, with a gleaming fitted kitchen and the arrival of a host of new tastes and flavours. Presenter Giles Coren and food historian Polly Russell use the national food survey, an extraordinary collection of food diaries, to guide the family's diet and introduce them to the culinary treats of the decade, from the first spaghetti bolognese to Chinese restaurants and the excitement of their very first TV dinner, an oh-so-glamorous Vesta meal. Hairy Biker Dave Myers delivers the family their long-awaited fridge, along with his memories of the transformative effect of the appliance on his own childhood. There's a family trip to the new-fangled self-service supermarket, and Giles discovers how chicken went from an expensive treat to an everyday staple.