[Sca-cooks] Middle-Eastern 'Nibbles'?

[Nick Sasso]

> -----Original Message-----
> So the "bellaria" mentioned by Platina don't count as
> spiced nuts? Even with sugar?
>
> "There is an order to be observed in taking food, since
> everything that
> moves the bowels and whatever is of light and slight nourishment, like
> apples and pears is more safely and pleasantly eaten in the first
> course. I even add lettuce and whatever is served with
> vinegar and oil,
> raw or cooked. Then there are eggs, especially the
> soft-cooked kind, and
> certain sweets which we call bellaria, seasoned with spices and pine
> nuts, or honey, or sugar. These are served very appropriately to
> guests." Platina I.16


On first reading, the syntax would suggest that "bellaria" are some sort of
sweet that is seasoned with both spices and nuts, or a sweetener.  That
would suggest that the whole item is more that simply nuts and sugar/spices.
Maybe a pastry of some sort or other??   It also is worth noting that the
nuts and sugar are in an 'or' statement.

niccolo difrancesc