Ancient Recipe: Maza (Ancient Greek, ca. 2nd millennium BCE)
“My maza comes to me from my spear, from my spear comes my Ismarian wine, and I drink while leaning on my spear.” ~ the Greek warrior-poet Archilochus explains how he earns his keep Barley is one of...
View ArticleAncient Eater: Archestratus, the OG (Original Gourmand) (Greek, 4th century BCE)
“Now the best [flour] to get ahold of and the finest of all, cleanly bolted from barley with a good grain, is in Lesbos…it is whiter than snow from the sky. If the gods eat barley groats, then Hermes...
View ArticleDinner Date: Artemidora (90s CE)
“Artemidora, daughter of Harpokras, died untimely, aged 27. Farewell.” ~ Funerary inscription of Artemidora, 90s CE The first thing I always notice about her is her hair. It’s a distinctive fusion of...
View ArticleAncient Recipe: Ptisane [Barley Water] (Greek, at least 5th century BCE)
“[Barley] groats belong to the wheat family. They have juice that is quite nourishing and tenacious.” ~ Aelius Galenus (Galen), De alimentorum facultatibus (On the Properties of Foodstuffs), early 2nd...
View ArticleChrysocolla [Flaxseed Candy] (Greek, at least 7th century BCE)
“Bread sprinkled with poppy-seed is mentioned by Alcman in Book V as follows: ‘Couches seven, and as many tables laden with poppy-bread, and bread with flax and sesame-seed; and in cups…chrysocolla.’...
View ArticleGreco-Persian Dinner
“This is the display of the inquiry of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, so that things done by man not be forgotten in time, and that great and marvelous deeds, some displayed by the Hellenes [Greeks], some...
View ArticleBook Review: Fruit from the Sands by Robert Spengler (2019)
Since my last post, I’m excited to announce that I’ve been working on a series of food history videos with my friend, nutritionist and food vlogger Fiorella DiCarlo. But in the meantime, University of...
View ArticleUpdates: Ancient Music, and an Ancient Greek Poetry Article on Medium
If you follow me on social media (@passtheflamingo), you might be aware that I’m still working on a series of food history videos (release date TBA). I’m excited to announce that each video will...
View ArticleNew Food History Video Series! (Trailer)
Need something to watch while quarantined? I’ve posted on this blog before about my ancient food history web show, From Eggs to Apples, which I’ve been working on with dietician Fiorella DiCarlo. I’m...
View ArticleFrom Eggs to Apples Episode III: Ancient Greece (Cheesy Mackerel with Roasted...
In our third episode, we investigate the cuisine of Ancient Greece, including a dish alluded to in the work of the first food critic, Archestratus (who I have written about on this blog before). One of...
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