Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome

PLAIN BOILED _ALITER_ PUT THE SEA URCHINS SINGLY IN BOILING WATER, COOK, RETIRE, AND PLACE ON A PLATTER. [415] IN CHAFING DISH _IN THERMOSPODIO_ [1] [To the meat of sea urchins, cooked as above, add a sauce made of bay] LEAVES, PEPPER, HONEY, BROTH, A LITTLE OIL, BIND WITH EGGS IN THE HOT WATER BATH [2] SPRINKLE WITH PEPPER AND SERVE. [1] This formula is combined with the preceding in the original. [2] Thermospodium; in this respect resembling seafood à la Newburgh. The thermospodium is an elaborate food and drink heater, used both in the kitchen and in the dining room. Our drawing illustrates an elaborate specimen which was used to prepare dishes such as this one in front of the guests. [416] SALT SEA URCHIN _IN ECHINO SALSO_ [The cooked meat of] SALT SEA URCHIN IS SERVED UP WITH THE BEST [fish] BROTH, REDUCED WINE AND PEPPER TO TASTE. Undoubtedly a commercial article like crabmeat today. The sea urchins were cooked at the fisheries, picked, shells, refuse discarded, the meat salted and marketed. The fish was also salted in the shell as seen in the following: [417] ANOTHER WAY _ALITER_ TAKE SALT SEA URCHINS, ADD THE BEST BROTH AND TREAT THEM IN A MANNER AS TO LOOK LIKE FRESH THAT HAVE JUST COME OUT OF THE WATER. IX MUSSELS _IN MITULIS_ [1] [418] MUSSELS _IN MITULIS_ BEST [2] BROTH, FINELY CUT LEEKS, CUMIN, RAISIN WINE, MUST [3] AND ADD WATER TO MAKE A MIXTURE IN WHICH TO COOK THE MUSSELS. [1] Variously spelled _mytilus_, _mitylus_, _mutulus_, an edible mussel. Tor. and List. _merula_, merling, whiting, Fr. _merlan_. _Merula_ also is a blackbird, which is out of place here. The Vat. Ms. reads _in metulis_. [2] Tor. [3] Tor. _vinum mustum_; List. _v. mixtum_. X SARDINES, BABY TUNNY, MULLET _IN SARDA _[1]_ CORDULA _[2]_ MUGILE_ [3] [419] STUFFED SARDINE _SARDAM FARSILEM_ PROPERLY, OUGHT TO BE TREATED IN THIS MANNER: THE SARDINE IS BONED AND FILLED WITH CRUSHED FLEA-BANE, SEVERAL GRAINS OF PEPPER, MINT, NUTS, DILUTED WITH HONEY, TIED OR SEWED, WRAPPED IN PARCHMENT AND PLACED IN A FLAT DISH ABOVE