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Judi Lynn

(162,374 posts)
Mon Dec 25, 2023, 08:39 AM Dec 2023

Lying down and vomiting between courses: This is how Ancient Romans would feast

By Silvia Marchetti, CNN
7 minute read
Published 8:34 PM EST, Sun December 24, 2023



The Romans had an unusual approach to celebration and festivities.
Archivah/Alamy Stock Photo
CNN

Imagine, if you will, the most glorious festive feast, with an oversize turkey, stuffing two ways, holiday ham, the requisite fixings and at least half a dozen pies and cakes. That may all sound grand — that is, until you consider the extravagant displays of the ancient Roman banquet.

Members of the Roman upper classes regularly indulged in lavish, hours-long feasts that served to broadcast their wealth and status in ways that eclipse our notions of a resplendent meal. “Eating was the supreme act of civilisation and celebration of life,” said Alberto Jori, professor of ancient philosophy at the University of Ferrara in Italy.

Ancient Romans enjoyed sweet and salty concoctions. Lagane, a rustic short pasta usually served with chickpeas, was also used to make a honey cake with fresh ricotta cheese. The Romans used garum, a pungent, salty fermented fish sauce for umami flavor in all dishes, even as a dessert topping. (For context, garum has a similar flavor profile and composition to current-day Asian fish sauces such as Vietnam’s nuoc mam and Thailand’s nam pla.) The prized condiment was made by leaving fish meat, blood and guts to ferment inside containers under the Mediterranean sun.



"The Roses of Heliogabalus" by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1888) illustrating celestial Roman diners at a banquet.

Game meat such as venison, wild boar, rabbit and pheasant along with seafood like raw oysters, shellfish and lobster were just some of the pricey foods that made regular appearances at the Roman banquet.

More:
https://edition.cnn.com/style/how-ancient-romans-feasted/index.html

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Lying down and vomiting between courses: This is how Ancient Romans would feast (Original Post) Judi Lynn Dec 2023 OP
Now hildegaard28 Dec 2023 #1
Kinda sorta reminds me of that SNL skit with Bill Murray as the guy giving out the feathers at the mitch96 Dec 2023 #2
the vomitorium is one of the few things that stick in my mind about... samnsara Dec 2023 #3
My kind of party! Ocelot II Dec 2023 #4
I couldn't do it. Staph Dec 2023 #5
This was the upper classes cally Dec 2023 #6
Typical upper class behavior. While the poor starve, you gorge yourself and purge repeatedly, Ziggysmom Dec 2023 #7

mitch96

(14,651 posts)
2. Kinda sorta reminds me of that SNL skit with Bill Murray as the guy giving out the feathers at the
Mon Dec 25, 2023, 09:14 AM
Dec 2023

vomitorium.. Classic!
🤮
m

samnsara

(18,282 posts)
3. the vomitorium is one of the few things that stick in my mind about...
Mon Dec 25, 2023, 10:45 AM
Dec 2023

..the great roman empire

that and Caligula whipping the ocean

Ocelot II

(120,815 posts)
4. My kind of party!
Mon Dec 25, 2023, 11:34 AM
Dec 2023

Actually it sounds pretty gross. During my debauched youth I was at enough parties that involved vomiting, though unplanned. Not my idea of a fun time.

Staph

(6,345 posts)
5. I couldn't do it.
Mon Dec 25, 2023, 12:37 PM
Dec 2023

I suffer from "sympathetic vomiting". If someone within earshot throws up, I am obliged to join in. I'd never get to eat anything!


Ziggysmom

(3,569 posts)
7. Typical upper class behavior. While the poor starve, you gorge yourself and purge repeatedly,
Sat Dec 30, 2023, 12:43 AM
Dec 2023

wasting, wasting, wasting food........

Human beings can be so vile and disgusting!

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