[Sca-cooks] A good source? was "period spice containers/storage"
David Friedman
ddfr at daviddfriedman.com
Wed Jul 6 11:47:12 PDT 2011
From a quick look, it is not reliable. It gives what purport to be
quotes from recipes but does not provide any source. It includes at
least one false statement--that saffron was coming from non-European
sources. Its origin was Asian, but it was being grown in Europe from
classical antiquity on.
It has what look to me like wildly exaggerated claims about how much
spice was used where. The recipe that starts "cook a large piece of
pork ..." reads to me more like a modern redaction than an original.
And the author clearly has his own axe to grind, his explanation of
why spices were important when.
>I did find the source again where they talked about passing a "spice
>platter" around the table for guests to add more spices to their already
>prepared meals. I believe some folks corrected that information
>saying that it
>was not for putting on food but came in forms of sugar treats or what not.
>
>Here is the source and the excerpt that I was referring to.
>
>******************************************************************
>
>Spices, or the Dawn of the Modern Age
>from Tastes of Paradise: A Social History of Spices, Stimulants, and
>Intoxicants
>by Wolfgang Schivelbusch
>published by Vintage Books, A Division of Random House ISBN 0-679-74438-X
>
>"At especially refined tables spices became emancipated altogether from the
> prepared food. They were passed around on a gold or silver tray- the spice
> platter-during the meal or just after it. This platter was divided into
>various compartments, each of which held a specific spice. Guests helped
>themselves, adding spices as desired to the already seasoned dish,
>or they used
>the tray as a cheese or dessert platter. They consumed pepper, cinnamon,
>and nutmeg as we nowadays might partake of a delicacy, a glass of sherry, or
>a cup of coffee."
>
>_http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/excerpt2.html_
>(http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/excerpt2.html)
>
>******************************************************************
>
>
>I would very much appreciate knowing if this is not a good source for my
>A&S project.
>
>Thank you to all who offer their input.
>
>YIS,
>~Aine of Wyewood
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--
David Friedman
www.daviddfriedman.com
daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/
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