Dining With The Romans

Numerius was a slave and ate one meal a daythem with their hands. For the entree, a whole pig
consisting of gruelwas cooked and swordsmen cut indivdual pieces
made with cracked wheat.While Spurius a plebianfor the diners.
purchased hisAfter the main meal, dessert was served in
meals from street vendors,food shops andanother dining area where the wine flowed like
taverns located nearwater. All types of fruit was offered by the
large public buildings and bathhouses. Marius aslaves. Poppy seeds mixed with honey as well as
patrician and asweet cakes mixed with honey, nuts and chopped
member of the Roman senate had the meansfruits were a special treat.Pork Roast With
and the influence toPrunes, Apricots and Figs
enjoy his meals that were cooked and served3 or 4 lb lean pork roast, with a slit cut into the
by slaves in one ofside of it
two spacious dining areas within his home.1/2-cup dry prunes, apricots and figs, chopped
Quintus a freedman lived in the country where he1-Tlb cooking oil
grew vegetables and raised some1/4-tsp salt
livestock for an absentee owner. He and his1/4-cup honey
family ate fresh produce, mashed beans, bacon1/2-cup waterDirections: Have the butcher cut a
and cheese that were cooked withslit or a pocket into the side
fresh herbs, olive oil and salt.Breakfast was notof the pork roast.In a sauce pan add the dried
much of a meal and it consisted of a crackedfruit, the honey and the water. Simmer the dried
wheat porridge or bread dipped in wine that wasfruit until tender. Stuff the cooked fruit into the
mixed with honeyslit of the pork roast and tie it with a
and water. Depending upon one's status, dates orstring. Rub the salt on both sides of the pork
olives were included.Cracked Wheat Porridge1-cuproast. In a skillet, heat the cooking oil and sear
Bulgar wheat, crushedboth sides of the pork roast Transfer it to a
2-cups watercrock pot cooking for four hours on high and then
4-Tlbs. olive oilturn it down to low four more hours. Test the
1-tsp. saltDirections: In a skillet, heat the olive oildone
and stir in the Bulgar wheat until it is well coatedpork roast with a meat fork to make sure it is
with the olive oil. Removecooked through.
from heat and add the water and the salt. DrizzleThe beverage of choice was Mulsum. Warm
some honeyone-half cup of honey and add it to a bottle of
in the porridge for added sweetness. Serve withMaderia dry white wine. Serve it chilled.As soon as
some fresh figs,the sun went down, Quintus a freedman walked
dates or dried apricots.Lunch was the midmeal offrom the
the day. For the majority of the Romanfields to his home where his wife and daughters
citizens, it was either purchased from the streetwere preparing fresh vegetables and a whole
vendors or food shops and taken home to enjoy.chicken stuffed with fresh herbs.
Plebians and freedmenTheir gardens produced fresh vegetables and
ate bread, fruit, cheese or leftovers from lastthey raised chickens
nights supper.and pigs. Quintus had a small vineyard where he
Marius like the other patricians ate his lunch atgrew the grapes for his own wine. Tonight, they
home or purchased his food from the streetwere making his favorite soup of
vendors. Dinner was servedbroad beans that were mashed and seasoned
late in the afternoon and it was the main meal ofwith herbs,bacon
the day.and small chunks of cheese.Broad Bean Soup
The plebians and the freedmen ate their dinners2-cups of small pasta, cooked
at the taverns.3-cups of broad beans,peeled
The food was plentiful and the ingredients were1-cup of bacon, precooked
fresh. Wine was1-onion,chopped
diluted with honey and some water and served1/2-can tomato sauce
at every meal.Grilled Sardines with Garum1/4-tsp pepper
8-whole sardines, grilled1/4-teaspoon sea saltDirections: In a soup pot or
4-cups grape juicea dutch oven, saute the bacon and when it is
2-Tlbs. anchovy pastealmost done add the chopped onion and the
1/4-tsp. oreganoDirections: Cook the grape juicetomato sauce.Add the peeled broad beans and
until it is reduced down ot one-tenth of its volume.the salt.Cover the beans with cold water. Simmer
Mix in the anchovy paste and the oregano to theon medium low until the beans are tender. If they
reduced down liquid. Grill the sardines and pour aare dense after they are done cooking add more
portion ofwater. Pour in the cooked pasta.Let the soup cool
the garum sauce over them. Serve with someand serve it with lots of pepper and pecorino
flat bread, ripe cheese and olives.After a long daycheese.Serve with a piece of flat bread and some
at the forum, Marius a Roman senator arrived atolives.1. Social Position And Food Of The Roman
his spacious home where he was greeted byEmpire. Jean Preston, Dr. Christian Renaud.
slaves. He joined hisDecember 2,1997.
family and guests in the dining area where2.Essay sample on: Ancient Roman Meals And
appetizers were beingEating Habits.
served from a bronzed donkey. Everyone took3. Broad Bean Soup Recipe. love for ancient
individual portions of hot sausages, dishes ofhistory, the author has studied some Philosophy
olives, crabs, figs, bacon and tomatoes eatingand History.