{"id":9413,"date":"2023-12-10T07:55:11","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T06:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9413"},"modified":"2023-12-10T07:55:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T06:55:11","slug":"what-were-the-foods-served-at-banquet-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-were-the-foods-served-at-banquet-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Were The Foods Served At Banquet In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Foods Served at Banquet in Ancient Rome<\/strong><\/p>\n

The banquet was an essential part of life in ancient Rome, whether it was to commemorate a special occasion or to celebrate a holiday. The food served at these feasts was not just simple, but often extravagantly prepared. The Romans were known for their banquets as much as for their impressive architecture and engineering. To understand Roman feasts and their cult of eating, it is important to know what food was served at banquet in ancient Rome. <\/p>\n

In Roman times, there was an abundance of foods from which to choose when hosting a banquet. One of the first courses were the gustae, which were appetizers composed of fruit and other snacks. They might include freshly picked apples, figs, melons, walnuts and dates. Other dishes served in gustae were olives, mussels, roasted snails and a variety of vegetables. Even more luxurious ingredients, like peacock brains and nightingale tongues, would also be served. Fishes, including shellfish like oysters and mussels, were also popular. For larger and more important events, roasts would be served as well, including wild boar, venison, and pigeon, as well as different kinds of poultry and game. <\/p>\n

At the time, there was much more of a focus on the preparation and presentation of the food than there is today. Myriad cooks and chefs were employed to prepare banquets, and often it was their task to come up with new and exotic dishes for the feasters. Meats were often salted, smoked, or pickled, and the fish were marinated or cooked in wine or oil. <\/p>\n