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On food in the ancient world
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:37 pm
by Arduin
I was looking up some data for a future game, to add flavour (pun intended). Anyway I ran across a translation of the only known, intact, cookbook from Rome (~300 A.D.) called Apicius. Has full intro, etc,
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/29728/29 ... 9728-h.htm
Bonum appetitionem!
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:11 pm
by Omote
That is pretty awesome. I was skimming over this thinking I would get hungry after reading it. Nope. Though I'm sure some of that food was delicious for its day, um, I don't think I would partake. Great reference material though.
~O
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:38 pm
by Lurker
Nice find. It will end up making great "flavour (pun intended). " for your game
By the way, I love the Gutenberg site. There is some nice finds on there!
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:49 am
by JediOre
If you want the actual book, Dover Publishers makes an inexpensive paperback of Apicius' Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome. Amazon.com sells the tome. It is very interesting and, as far as I am aware of, the oldest extent cook book!
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:59 am
by Relaxo
OMG I MUST HAVE ONE! THAT IS AWESOME!!!!
(yes, I'm serious. I'm a total food geek)
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:01 am
by Arduin
Relaxo wrote:OMG I MUST HAVE ONE! THAT IS AWESOME!!!!
(yes, I'm serious. I'm a total food geek)
Here's the epub (with pics) link:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29728.epub.images
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:11 am
by Relaxo
you rock!
epub is Nook, right? can I read it on anything else?
(I'm computer savvy for 1999...)
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:41 am
by Arduin
Relaxo wrote:you rock!
epub is Nook, right? can I read it on anything else?
(I'm computer savvy for 1999...)
Yes, epub is the default format on nook. There are free epub readers for PC's to download. Mobipocket Reader is one. Probably works on smart phones/tablets as well...
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:13 am
by serleran
Cool Reader will open almost anything.
And, yes, I want one too... bound in human (or if I must, some sort of leather / hide) flesh.
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:13 am
by Lurker
Relaxo wrote:you rock!
epub is Nook, right? can I read it on anything else?
(I'm computer savvy for 1999...)
I hate to admidt it, but I'm not sure. i always use the html or the kindle versions (actually both, one for my laptop & the other for my kindle. & yes like I said I love the gutenberg site! )
Here you go on the book's site, you can choose which ever format you use the most.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29728
OMG I MUST HAVE ONE! THAT IS AWESOME!!!!
(yes, I'm serious. I'm a total food geek)
Rgr on that! I'm actually using how to cook a perfect egg as a learning activity in my current MA Teaching class

Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:22 am
by Arduin
Lurker wrote:Relaxo wrote:you rock!
epub is Nook, right? can I read it on anything else?
(I'm computer savvy for 1999...)
I hate to admidt it, but I'm not sure.
I have a nook. epub is the default format it was designed to use.
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:23 am
by Arduin
serleran wrote:Cool Reader will open almost anything.
And, yes, I want one too... bound in human (or if I must, some sort of leather / hide) flesh.
Thanks for the tip on Cool Reader. My friend has a custom bindery. He has done a couple of books in human...
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:30 am
by clavis123
Cool link. Apicius is perfect if you want to serve something truly different for game night!
Of course, you won't be able to find Garum or Silphium in your local grocery store. Fortunately, Garum, was almost identical to modern Thai and Vietnamese Fish Sauces (nam pla and nuoc mam), so you can use those. The Silphium plant is long extinct (the Romans ate it all!), but Asafoetida was used as a substitute even in ancient times.
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:04 am
by Relaxo
Lurker wrote:
Rgr on that! I'm actually using how to cook a perfect egg as a learning activity in my current MA Teaching class

Neat!
Is MA "Master of Arts" (degree) or "Martial Arts"?
Re: On food in the ancient world
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:28 pm
by Lurker
Relaxo wrote:
Neat!
Is MA "Master of Arts" (degree) or "Martial Arts"?
Master of Arts in Teaching and Learning
Fortunately, Garum, was almost identical to modern Thai and Vietnamese Fish Sauces (nam pla and nuoc mam),
Clavis. You know I never put 2 & 2 together on that ... I guess I assumed "fish Sauce" would be too spicy but fermented fish juice is fermented fish juice no matter where it originates