Back In Time For Dinner

Guided by Annabel Crabb, an Aussie family goes on a time-travelling adventure to discover how the food we eat transformed the way we live, the fabric of the nation and defined family roles - starting in post-war 1950s.

There is great change in Australia and the Ferrone household. The dinner table is the hub of conversation about the role of young women in work and education, and the conscription of young men for a tour of duty in Vietnam really concerns 17-year-old Julian. Housewives are now experimenting with exotic new dishes like...Chinese! Food is now processed, soup is no longer just an entre, and potato comes in flakes, plus there's a Tupperware party! Technology stumps Sienna as she struggles to use a phone. Peter meets Annabel for the 6 o'clock swill.

It's the decade of girl power as Carol belts out "I am Woman", the anthem of the women's movement. After two decades, Carol has a job. But it might come at a price. Sienna and Olivia who never come home alone after school in 2018, now find themselves in an empty house with a pantry full of sugary snacks. Dinner is now totally from the freezer. And the pie and beer unite when the Ferrone men are introduced to the world of the Ocker. And, of course, there's fondue.

In the decade of big shoulder pads, big hair, and a booming economy, Annabel takes Peter and Carol to meet chef Peter Gilmore to discover that we paid big bucks to eat small things on extra big plates. The family take on the diet wars of Atkins and Pritikin in a now completely open plan kitchen and dining area. The coming of the microwave means the Ferrone's social bond of sharing a home-cooked meal begins to disappear, as do our waistlines.

As the last generation before constant internet connection, Julian and Sienna encounter for the first time the sound of the dial up tone piercing through Australian households. The family's palate goes on a culinary tour as they experience the changing face of Australian cuisine with the 'new' flavours of Vietnamese foods, and the 'old' wisdom of indigenous cooking. It's high fives all round with the arrival of the dishwasher.

The decade begins on a high with Olympic star Liesel Jones arriving at the house for a beef slider. Olivia is excited to plant herbs after meeting the incredible Stephanie Alexander who believes choosing better eating options has to start with the kids. Peter has his hands full at the local cafe as coffee consumption goes crazy. Julian is in his element when he channels Heston Blumenthal and makes balsamic caviar. With food costs escalating, Carol is overwhelmed by her visit to Foodbank.