The Warm Comfort Meal That Gives Boomers Instant Food Nostalgia

There are a lot of things that can be said about the so-called "Boomers," the generation of people born in the "baby boom" that followed the end of World War II. This large cohort has been influential and controversial in the job market, the economy, and more. But what about their taste in food? Well, if you have Boomers in your life and want to treat them to a homemade meal that will immediately hit their cozy nostalgia buttons, consider going old-school and cooking up a hearty pot roast.

Pot roast was popular in the mid-20th century, and remains a culinary touchstone of the era. A post on the Facebook group "BABY BOOMERS (1946-1964)" simply reading, "Pot roast and gravy," garnered over a hundred likes and dozens of affectionate and nostalgic comments. Some Boomers online even recall having pot roast every Sunday and lament its fall from popularity. One Facebook user wrote, "I cooked a pot roast every Sunday for years. No one in my family eats pot roast anymore." 

While many people think of pot roast as a vintage food that fell out of popularity, it has to be said that the Boomers had a point when it came to the meal's appeal. The rich, satisfying pot roast can be set to slow-cook well in advance of when you plan to serve it, and, if you get a large cut of meat, it's perfect for feeding a crowd.

One more great thing about pot roast is that it makes excellent leftovers. While leaner beef dishes, like steak, risk becoming dry and tough as leftovers, in the case of pot roast, the gravy in the dish keeps it from drying out, and as the flavors meld in the refrigerator, some even find that pot roast leftovers taste better than on the first day. But, as the "BABY BOOMERS (1946-1964)" Facebook post's comments note, leftover pot roast also makes a wonderful roast beef sandwich, which can be served hot or cold, and can be part of the appealing nostalgia of the dish. You can also combine pot roast with another old-school cooking style by turning the leftovers into a pot roast casserole.

On the other hand, perhaps you want to give your pot roast leftovers a more surprising spin. If so, consider making pot roast nachos, which adds a meaty twist to a fun sharing-sized plate of loaded nachos. The rich meat in pot roast also works well as a taco filling, or if you have a large amount of leftover meat and are hoping to use it all up, the base for a richly satisfying bowl of chili.