Ancient Roman Dining

The book considers how changes contingent toideological conflict could affect Roman aristocraticfoods and their presentation. Throughout attempt ismade to understand Roman elite cuisine as anexpressive vehicle for social relations. The Romannoble's perspective on traditional foods may havesignified Roman identity. Evidence is examined acrossantiquity that reference classic foods elite diningand the elite dining environment. Elite Roman 'tastes': the Roman aristocratic foodfashions flavors and styles are examined fromdifferent ideological and sensory perspectives. Onesection engages the spirituality of classic and inparticular elite Roman foods. This is followed by adiscussion on 'blended' Roman cuisine: the exoticstews and sauces on typically expects on the eliteRoman table. How the noble approached these 'blended'creations may have been contingent on his or herworldview. In the final chapter the Roman aristocratic dining environment is explored. It isargued that the dining setting played an in integralpart in the noble's political-culinary agenda.