What Was the Best Looking Food on Mad Men?
I did not order the orange sherbet.
My favorite show of all time is Mad Men, and one of the things that I love about it is the incredible attention to detail. That includes the many foods featured from the 1960s, but what looked the most delicious? That's what I set out to answer.
Sadly, some of the most iconic food items associated with Mad Men were never actually shown on screen. Chicken Kiev from season four, for example, is mentioned in multiple scenes, but we never see it. And Roger's season one room service order that was about to take over Europe was hidden under a cloche.
So, my goal was to go over as much food shown on Mad Men as possible and decide what looked the best. Come along with me on this important journey.
10. Chicken Salad on Ritz Crackers
Season 3, Episode 6: Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency
A big bowl of homemade chicken salad, a fresh sleeve of Ritz crackers, and an ice cold Budweiser. Did Betty Draper invent Girl Dinner? The only thing that would make this meal better is eating it over the kitchen counter like a gremlin.
9. Deli Plate For Lucky Strike
Season 1, Episode 11: Indian Summer
The best way to distract from a man recovering from a heart attack is a New York deli tray. We've got some pastrami, turkey, and maybe roast beef. Not to mention the Cokes sitting in a bucket of ice. I think I'll pass on the cigarettes, though.
8. Derby Party Buffet
Season 3, Episode 3: My Old Kentucky Home
I'm not exactly sure what type of meat I'm looking at here, but what I do know is it looks amazing. That glistening, dark golden brown exterior must be covering something juicy inside. I'd gladly deal with the drunk hostess to get some.
7. Table Side Caesar Salad
Season 1, Episode 2: Ladies Room
I imagine Caesar Salad made from scratch at your table is as good as Caesar Salad gets. Sadly, we don't get to see the final product, but I had to include it because this is the closest Mad Men gets to a glamorous food preparation scene. Salad never looked so sexy.
6. Steak For Roger & Don
Season 1, Episode 7: Red in the Face
There's nothing particularly special about defrosted steaks, mashed potatoes, and green beans, but it reminds me of many dinners of my childhood. Meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. That's all you need. Thankfully, mine didn't include war stories and making passes at your co-worker's wife.
5. French Toast With Rum
Season 4, Episode 9: The Beautiful Girls
If it wasn't clear from the first two recipes I chose for my Mythical Cookbook series, I'm a big fan of breakfast food. Now, I don't have the same appreciation for alcohol as Don, but I can't see this being bad. I think Sally is an innovator—why have I never seen French Toast with rum on a brunch menu?
4. Lobster For the Jaguar Team
Season 5, Episode 11: The Other Woman
Jaguar was probably the worst client featured on Mad Men, but working on the Jaguar team certainly had its advantages—as Peggy was well aware. Lobster, Caesar salad, and Miller High Life is a super luxurious lunch. At last, something delicious you can truly enjoy at work.
3. Room Service Burgers & Fries
Season 2, Episode 13: Meditations in an Emergency
I have to imagine The Roosevelt Hotel kitchen was putting out some incredible room service in 1962. The burger looks great, and the fries look even better. Plus, Don actually looks happy—the burger has to be part of that.
2. Hawaiian New Years Breakfast
Season 4, Episode 3: The Good News
I'm sure that's just a Sugarberry from the stock closet, but I'm a sucker for glazed ham with pineapple. Cherries on top are, well, the cherry on top. And freshly squeezed orange juice, too? Greg did not deserve this delicious spread.
1. Brooklyn Avenue Sandwich
Season 7, Episode 1: Time Zones
I love this little moment. Pete discovered a delicious sandwich and he wanted to share it with his buddy. He proudly explains, "It's pastrami with coleslaw right on the sandwich." The energy here is very much "just guys being dudes."
Don's reaction is what really cements it for me. We rarely saw him get excited about food. In fact, he often needed to be reminded to eat something. So I have to imagine that was a very delicious sandwich, and every time I see this scene I want to try one.
Honorable Mention
Images: AMC
- Lane’s Big Texas Belt Buckle Steak (S4 E3: The Good News)
- Shrimp Cocktail for Menken's (S1 E1: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes)
- Betty’s Apology Roast Beef (S1 E7: Red in the Face)
- Trudy’s Dinner for a Crybaby (S1 E5: 5G)
- Revenge Oysters (S1 E7: Red in the Face)
