Thinking of Italy probably makes you think of pasta…and with good reason. But in many parts of Italy, pasta isn’t the preferred culinary co-star. Arborio rice — the kind used in the famed Italian risottos — isn’t always a front-runner, either. Polenta is. The Romans adored this simple corn-mash-turned-cake and ate it everywhere, from the [...]
Continue reading about An Ancient Roman Favorite in Modern Times
“The young sow wild oats; the old sow sage,” goes the adage. Arabians associated sage with immortality while the Romans called it salva, or in Latin, to “heal” or “save.” (Hence, the modern-day word “salvation.”) There are hundreds of varieties of sage, ranging from the purple-flowered common sage to the more exotic varieties like pineapple [...]
Garlic may well be the most potent herb on the planet. Egyptian medical writings dating back to 1550 B.C.E. speak of its curative powers, Pliny listed it as being a remedy for over 60 ailments, and Romans ate it before going into battle to give them strength. Garlic, it was believed, was the chosen herb [...]
Though little-known in American cuisine today, coriander has enjoyed a rich past. It was named as an aphrodisiac in 1,001 Arabian Nights, it was treasured in China during the Han dynasty (207 B.C.E.-220 A.C.E.), and it is one of the bitter herbs of Passover. Coriander seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. Romans used [...]
Bay leaves come from bay trees, which in Latin is a Laurus. In Roman times, a wreath or crown made from bay leaves was a sign of honor for its bearer. (Think of the phrase “to rest on one’s laurels.”) Kings, priests, prophets, poets, and the victors of both scholarly and athletic contests wore laurels [...]
