[Sca-cooks] Spices and the Irish Common folk

[Terry Decker]

> You have to look at the cultural perspective.  These folks were raised on
> stories like the Tain Bo Cuailnge, where cattle = wealth.  Also take into
> account that seafood is often associated with Fast Days, and therefore 
> fish
> = deprivation, no matter how lovely and fresh it is.
>
> At least the Irish hospitality industry is beginning to get the clue to
> emphasize the real strengths of local cuisine in order to attract tourism
> and other business contacts to their area.  But that is NOW, and we are
> studying THEN.
>
> Selene C.

At the time of the Tain, salmon was considered fine fare.

I suspect fish may not have equaled deprivation until Rome assimilated the 
Celtic Church in the mid-7th Century.

Bear