Food and Drink

Question 1

Difference between food then and now

Answer 1

• less fatty
• little meat & no sugar
• honey, wine & fruit to sweeten diet
• much boiling vs baking (no ovens for the poor)

Question 2

food at a dinner party

Answer 2

• All drank wine (heavily diluted)
• porridge replaced by bread (2nd c. BC): round loaf
• veggies and fruits (no tomatoes, potatoes or citrus fruit)
• meat = expensive, esp. beef; poor eat chicken
• fish and seafood
• sauces: sweet and sour; garum (pungent black fish-sauce)

Question 3

Cena

Answer 3

• cena (dinner) was the main meal of the day for a Roman. It started at around 3 or 4 o’clock and sometimes lasted several hours. The poor had meagre meals: often no more than black bread, vegetables and cheap wine. The rich enjoyed a three course meal. It consisted of:
• First course - gustatio (starters)
• Second course - primae mensae (mains)
• Third course – secundae mensae (desserts)