Balsamic Vinegar was Re: [Sca-cooks] Just A Feast report (part 2/2: kitchen detail)

[Susan Fox-Davis]

"Just" a Feast?  Sounds wonderful!  Next time I try this, it will be on my own
without any darn barony to tell me what I can't do.  Grumpsnarl.

Lorenz wrote:

> Kirrily Robert wrote:
> >  Used balsamic vinegar; not sure if that's period or not.  Anyone know?
>
> Mostly yes.  I can find references back to at least 1046 for the existence
> of balsamic vinegar, but  as a medicine.  It apparently became a prized
> culinary ingredient sometime in the 16th century, and by 1700 was in common
> use throughout Europe.   The production method of balsamico was fairly
> radically revised in the mid-19th century, so modern balsamics almost
> certainly taste very different from their period counterparts.

I want more information.  Sources?  Previous versions of balsamic vinegar,
how were they different?

Selene Colfox
selene at earthlink.net