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A few weeks ago I attended a surprise thirtieth birthday party for a cousin-in-law. His wife is famous for her party planning skills and this time the party theme was casino night, complete with a blackjack table, craps, roulette, and Texas hold ‘em. Guests were instructed to come dressed in Rat Pack attire.
The dress code on the invitation sent several of us, myself included, scurrying to do some internet searching to see what dressing as a member of the Rat Pack entails. So if you are wondering what it is, think Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. Our hostess was able to pull the surprise off by having the party in the basement and he really was surprised. And everyone came decked out in their finest approximation of Rat Pack era attire.
I was so impressed by the theme of the surprise party that I started to wonder what kinds of foods might be served at a Rat Pack era dinner (the party started at nine so we mostly had finger foods). So step into your time machine and take a journey with me back to a swanky 1950s era supper club, and bring your crockpot along for the ride.
Of course, you must start with the obvious: the martini. The classic martini is done James Bond style: shaken, not stirred, ice cold gin with a touch of vermouth and little else (well okay, Bond drinks vodka martinis). It’s the way my own father likes it, the old school way. But current thinking is anything that comes in a cocktail glass can be called a martini – whether it is a cosmopolitan or a green apple martini made with vodka. So why not have a little fun with it and come up with your own signature version of a martini (I always make sure I have the basic gin and vermouth on hand too for stalwarts like my dad)! Don’t forget to showcase your bar with a colored backlight.
Next is the food. Classic mid century American cuisine fits the bill. Little Swedish meatballs, the kind with grape jelly, would be a fitting opening to a vintage 1950s supper. These are easily prepared and served right from the slow cooker. Another appetizer you could serve is a play on Frank Sinatra’s nickname for Sammy Davis Junior, "Lil Smokey" – mini hot dogs cooked in the crockpot with sweet and sour sauce.
The perfect item to serve as main dish at a Rat Pack supper is steak. And what is more mid century Americana than Swiss Steak? This is a crockpot classic and the recipe below is a simple one that will have your guests at hello. To go along with your Swiss steak you can serve some mashed potatoes or roasted red bliss potatoes and a simple green salad.
And for dessert? Coconut Custard or Banana Cream Pie should hit the spot. These are two of the most classic '50s era desserts. You’ll worry about the calories tomorrow.
So put on a little Sinatra, mix up some martinis, and transport yourself to Vegas, tonight baby!
©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/pamela-chester/901-supper-club-fare/
Rat Pack Supper Club
A few weeks ago I attended a surprise thirtieth birthday party for a cousin-in-law. His wife is famous for her party planning skills and this time the party theme was casino night, complete with a blackjack table, craps, roulette, and Texas hold ‘em. Guests were instructed to come dressed in Rat Pack attire.
The dress code on the invitation sent several of us, myself included, scurrying to do some internet searching to see what dressing as a member of the Rat Pack entails. So if you are wondering what it is, think Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. Our hostess was able to pull the surprise off by having the party in the basement and he really was surprised. And everyone came decked out in their finest approximation of Rat Pack era attire.
I was so impressed by the theme of the surprise party that I started to wonder what kinds of foods might be served at a Rat Pack era dinner (the party started at nine so we mostly had finger foods). So step into your time machine and take a journey with me back to a swanky 1950s era supper club, and bring your crockpot along for the ride.
Of course, you must start with the obvious: the martini. The classic martini is done James Bond style: shaken, not stirred, ice cold gin with a touch of vermouth and little else (well okay, Bond drinks vodka martinis). It’s the way my own father likes it, the old school way. But current thinking is anything that comes in a cocktail glass can be called a martini – whether it is a cosmopolitan or a green apple martini made with vodka. So why not have a little fun with it and come up with your own signature version of a martini (I always make sure I have the basic gin and vermouth on hand too for stalwarts like my dad)! Don’t forget to showcase your bar with a colored backlight.
Next is the food. Classic mid century American cuisine fits the bill. Little Swedish meatballs, the kind with grape jelly, would be a fitting opening to a vintage 1950s supper. These are easily prepared and served right from the slow cooker. Another appetizer you could serve is a play on Frank Sinatra’s nickname for Sammy Davis Junior, "Lil Smokey" – mini hot dogs cooked in the crockpot with sweet and sour sauce.
The perfect item to serve as main dish at a Rat Pack supper is steak. And what is more mid century Americana than Swiss Steak? This is a crockpot classic and the recipe below is a simple one that will have your guests at hello. To go along with your Swiss steak you can serve some mashed potatoes or roasted red bliss potatoes and a simple green salad.
And for dessert? Coconut Custard or Banana Cream Pie should hit the spot. These are two of the most classic '50s era desserts. You’ll worry about the calories tomorrow.
So put on a little Sinatra, mix up some martinis, and transport yourself to Vegas, tonight baby!
Serves/Makes: 4
- 2 1/2 pounds round steak
- 1 package onion soup mix
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 can (10.75 ounce size) cream of mushroom soup
Cut steak into serving size pieces and place in the crock pot.
In a bowl, combine the onion soup mix, water, and cream of mushroom soup until well blended. Pour over the round steak.
Cover the crock pot and cook on low heat for 6 hours or until the steak is tender.
Serve the steak with the gravy from the crock pot over mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles.
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©2026 CDKitchen, Inc. No reproduction or distribution of any portion of this article is allowed without express permission from CDKitchen, Inc.
To share this article with others, you may link to this page:
https://www.cdkitchen.com/cooking-experts/pamela-chester/901-supper-club-fare/