SC - Apicius references

[Philip & Susan Troy]

Here's the info on the Columbus book plus some of the info in it.


The name of the book is Columbus Menu, Italian Cuisine after the First
Voyage of Christopher Columbus, by Stefano Milioni printed by the Istituto
Italiano per il Commercio Estero (Italian Trade Commission) It came out in
1992.

        One of the more entertaining topics he author talks about is the
reason why forks started being used.  He states it was the introduction of
the tomato to Italian cooking that caused the fork to be noticed.  Milioni
states that the fork was around but that it was regarded as an oddity.
With the use of tomatoes as sauce, Pasta was harder to eat so the fork
started being used and quickly caught on.  So thanks to spaghetti with
marinara sauce, forls became hot stuff.
He does have some dates on various food stuffs

Tomato - appeared in Spain early in the 16th century where it was a magical
or medicinal plant.  Someone during this time tried eating it and described
the flavor as similar to eggplant but tastless. The book further states
that the tomato while known to Italian botanists in the 16th century was
not introduced until the 17th century.  The book also suggests that it was
primarily grown as an ornamental but during a food famine someone succumbed
and cooked one and ate it. No recipes listed in period

Potato - introduced through Spain when it was brought back by the
Conquistadors.  Clusius in 1588 described the plant based on tubers he
received from the governor of what is now modern Belguim.  He ate them and
compared them to the turnip.  During the 16th century, potatoes were being
shipped to the Spanish garrisons in the Flanders area to supplement the
rations of the soldiers there.They are also listed as food items in the
records of the Sangre Hospital in Seville (1573)  These are white or
Virginian potatoes.  In 1587, Sir Francis Drake sailed into what is now
Columbia and loaded provisions, including potatoes, on his ship.  He was
supposed to take them to feed starving colonists in Virginia.  When he got
there everyone wanted to go back to England so they and the potatoes went
back.  That's the reason they were called Virginian potatoes.  No period
recipes listed.

Part II later.

Clare St. John




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