[Sca-cooks] Rice

[Terry Decker]

Rice is believed to have been introduced into Spain in the 8th or 9th 
Century with the Islamic expansion.  Cultivation spread around the 
Mediterranean and rice was traded into Northern Europe.  Rice recipes are 
found in most of the cookbooks of the High Middle Ages and later.  The 
original European rice was probably a long grain similar to bismati, but may 
have included other short or medium grain varieties.  Arborio is a medium 
grain rice that appears to have been developed in Italy, although there is 
not much information on when.

Bear


----- Original Message ----- 

I've some questions concerning rice.  When did rice start appearing on menus 
in northern Europe, what did it look like and what is the best modern 
equivalent.

Daniel