Around the Table of the Romans : Food and Feasting in Ancient Rome

by Patrick Faas

• ISBN13: 9780312239589
• ISBN10: 0312239580
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2003-01-18
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

In Around the Table of the Romans, Patrick Faas brings to life the Roman passion for eating. More than just a book of ancient recipes reconstructed for the modern cook (though there are over 150 in the book), this book is a portrait of ancient Roman society as seen from the dining table. Faas explores ancient Roman manners, dining arrangements, spices, seasonings, and cooking techniques. He shows how ancient Roman cuisine differs from its present incarnation. Most of all, he brings the ancient Roman world to life in a book that foodies and history buffs will salivate over.

Author Biography

Patrick Faas is a food historian and chef. He writes a column about food for the national Dutch newspaper, Der Volkskrant. He has appeared widely on European television and was sued by the SPCA for preparing an ancient Roman dish, baked stuffed mice.

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Introduction	1	(12)
PART ONE
Culinary History	13	(25)
The Age of Kings (753 BC to 509 BC)	13	(4)
The Republic (509 BC to 7 BC)	17	(9)
The Empire (7 BC to AD 476)	26	(12)
The Meal	38	(64)
Table Manners and Etiquette	48	(28)
The Courses	76	(7)
The Menu	83	(4)
The Carousal	87	(15)
Wine and Other Drinks	102	(23)
Wine	102	(4)
The Orgy	106	(5)
Wine Production	111	(8)
Other Drinks	119	(6)
The Cook and His Condiments	125	(50)
The Cook	125	(3)
Cooking	128	(6)
Medicinal Theory	134	(5)
Flavours -- Sour	139	(2)
Flavours -- Salt	141	(5)
Flavours -- Sweet	146	(4)
Flavours -- Bitter	150	(1)
Herbs	151	(12)
Spices	163	(3)
Other Ingredients	166	(9)
PART TWO
From the Land	175	(69)
Cereals	175	(20)
Pulses	195	(11)
Vegetables	206	(33)
Fruit and Nuts	239	(5)
From the Fire	244	(49)
Eating Meat	244	(2)
Sacrifice	246	(6)
Meat Distribution	252	(1)
Animal Suffering	252	(3)
Pork	255	(16)
The Sacred Bull	271	(4)
Sheep and Goats	275	(3)
Dogs	278	(1)
Game	279	(14)
From the Air	293	(30)
The Farmyard	293	(3)
Wild Birds	296	(27)
From the Water	323	(26)
Appendix	349	(3)
Weights and Measures	349	(1)
Money	350	(1)
Prices	350	(2)
Glossary	352	(3)
Bibliography	355	(2)
Illustration Sources	357	(2)
Conversion Tables	359	(2)
Index	361