"Tell me what thou eatest, " Alexis Soyer declared in a familiar refrain, "and I will tell thee who thou art." In his book Pantropheon, originally published in 1853, the flamboyant Frenchman (and world’s first celebrity chef) ventures to answer that question as he presents a wealth of entertaining and enlightening information on what food the people of ancient civilizations ate and how they prepared it.Describing the culinary achievements of the Greeks, Romans, Assyrians, Egyptians, and Jews, Soyer covers such topics as the mythological origin of specific foods (pomegranates and eels, for example); agricultural, milling, and marketing practices; descriptions of seasonings, pastries, and exotic dishes; the treatment of dinner guests; as well as suggestions for serving pigeon, peacock, wild boar, camel, elephant, flamingo, and other wildlife.Enhanced by 38 illustrations depicting food-related objects and antiquity’s gastronomic wonders, this witty and literal study of epicurean delights will charm history buffs and food enthusiasts alike.
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