What was a typical ancient Roman meal?

Question

In the recent made-for-tv movie 'Spartacus' on TNT, it showed female slaves preparing meals for their male counterparts in a kitchen. They were chopping vegetables and meat and putting them into a pot roast-like soup.

Is this accurate? Is our modern day pot roast soup similar to what ancient Romans ate (circa 100s BCs-200s AD)?

Paul

Answer 1

That would appear to be accurate to some extent.

The Romans did not eat huge meals.

Their main food was pottage. Pottage is a kind of thick stew made from wheat, millet or corn. Sometimes they would add cooked meat, offal or a sauce made out of wine.

Food for the common people consisted of wheat or barley, olive oil. a little fish, wine, home grown vegetables, and if they were lucky enough to own a goat or cow or chickens, cheese and a few eggs.



As the Republic grew and the Empire expanded the Romans came into contact with food from other countries. They used herbs and spices to flavour their food and began eating more fish, especially shell fish.

Vegetables were plentiful and most of the Roman's recipes included vegetables. They also ate a lot of fruit, especially grapes, and made wine.

The Romans ate their food with their fingers. They used knives made from antlers, wood or bronze with an iron blade to cut their food. They also had spoons made from bronze, silver and bone which they used to eat eggs, shellfish and liquids.



A Typical Roman's Food for the day:
Breakfast - This would be eaten early, probably as soon as the sun rose and would include bread and fresh fruit.

Lunch - Probably taken around noon. Lunch was only a small meal as it was thought a large meal would make one fall asleep in the afternoon. It would include some of the following - a little cooked meat - ham or salami, salad, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, vegetables and bread.

Dinner - This would begin at about four in the afternoon and could continue into the night. The starter would be either a salad or dish of small fish. The main course of fish, cooked meat and vegetables would be served next. The dessert would consist of fresh fruit and cheese. Sometimes small cakes sweetened with honey would be served.

Answer 2

Typical Roman Meal

Answer 3

Romans ate a variety of grains, meats and vegetables. The word Epicure is from Rome during that time...peafowl tongues, roast joints and a variety of breads. Various root vegetables were fed to slaves as a common food, but the nobles of Romes prefer baked or roasted foods. Olives preserved in brine also played part of the diet. Stracchino Cheese was popular as it matures quickly and cheese from sheep milk called percorino was also popular. In southern Italy Provolone affumicato was common too. A common green was Cavolo nero or black cabbage was used in many soups. Artichokes or Carciofi were brought to the mainland by ship and were eaten by the wealth. Finocchio or fennel was used as a medicinal but later incorporated into foods. Cipolle or onions has always been a major food item of Italy and often eaten raw such as an apple, Melanzane, fried in olive oil was common but Italy has always been fond of Peperoni or Peppers and Pomodori or tomatoes were vital for any meal. A strange mushroom called chanterelles was used and also dried for later use. Arancias (oranges) were used mainly as a sweet. Fico or figs are common in Southern Italy. Spices such as basilico (basil) prezzemolo (parsley, origano (oregano) and rosemarino (rosemary) flavored their foods. Seafoods included Gamberi (shrimp) sard (sardines) calamari (squid) sogliole (sole) and merluzzo (cod) frequently made their way to Rome via the Tiber river. They had many flavorful dishes. And of course wine.

Answer 4

Pizzas of a sort were among many of the foods found in Pompei when they dug up the city after being burried in volcanic ash for two thousand years. There is an excavated restraunt in Pompei that had many foods preserved. You can check it out here:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20050530/trattoria.html

Answer 5

it is arguable as to whether the Romans were meat eaters, and if so how much.

actually, Pompeii was a city that Rome took over, so their native foods were not necessarily "Roman".

the 2nd link has some ancient roman recipes.

Answer 6

Instant noodles

Answer 7

Nope. It's actually Hotdogs!

Answer 8

spaghetty and meatballs, with a cup of red slop

Answer 9

peta pockets!

Answer 10

breakfast--lunch--dinner