Mad Men Party Menu: Roquefort Canapes

 

I’ve got quite a collection of old and vintage cookbooks that I looked to for inspiration in creating my Mad Men party menu.  I wanted to capture the spirit of swanky and intricate spreads of hors d’oeuvres and garnishes from the era, while leaving behind all the jellied meats and pimientos.

Thankfully other fashionable ingredients of the time included Roquefort cheese, caviar, and smoked salmon. Even better, these ingredients all mix and match well, so I was able to make just one filling, styled with endless combinations and possibilities.  I loved all the colors and shapes together, but my favorite was the cute stripe-y ones made by alternating rye bread and the filling. Get creative with it!

 

Roquefort Filling

• 1 cup finely crumbled roquefort, gorgonzola, or blue cheese, room temperature
• 16 oz whipped cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
• salt & pepper to taste

 Toppings and Bases

• sliced rye bread
• crispy shells or savory tartlet shells
• smoked sockeye salmon
• caviar or roe
• persian or english cucumbers, thinly sliced
• radishes, very thinly sliced

Blend together cheese until somewhat smooth. Add in chives.  Season to taste with salt and pepper

Assembly

Striped Smoked Salmon Canape

Spread 3 slices of rye bread with a thick, even layer of filling (about the same thickness as the bread). Stack bread slices, topping with a 4th slice, so that it alternates between 4 slices of bread and 3 layers of filling. Carefully press together to create a solid block.

Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm.

Trim off edges with a very sharp knife and slice to reveal layers. Cut slices into squares or rectangles.

Cut a strip of smoked salmon and roll into a loose cone.  Place on striped canape to serve.

Caviar Cups

Fill a piping bag with filling and pipe into cups (or very carefully with a spoon), until just short of full. Fill the rest of the way with caviar.

Cucumber Canape

Spread rye bread with a thick, even layer of filling. Arrange cucumbers in neat rows, overlapping slices and spacing evenly, until filling is completely covered.

Wrap in plastic wrap and chill until firm.

Trim off edges and cut into squares or rectangles.

Radish Cups

Fill a piping bag with filling and pipe into cups (or very carefully with a spoon), until just short of full. Arrange thin radish slices in a flower petal pattern.

More from the Mad Men Inspired Party Menu here.