| Did you know one of the great Roman rituals was to | | | | The meals were often served in Samian pottery for |
| have a dinner party? | | | | their elegant appearance so earthenware or some |
| If a Roman held status in the community it was the | | | | rustic looking pottery serving bowls and urns would |
| accepted rule for the family to host regular dinner | | | | look effective. Imagine a crisp white table cloth |
| parties. Just as the Romans went to Roman baths to | | | | scattered with red rose petals or a gold metal bird |
| network and influence their local dignitaries, dinner | | | | cage as a center piece. |
| parties in the home were another means to help | | | | The background music should be soft and gentle - the |
| further the career of the host. The Romans were truly | | | | lyre was the most popular instrument as were flutes |
| class conscious - remember learning about the | | | | and harps. You get the drift. |
| Plebeians and the Patricians? | | | | The most widespread vegetables used to create |
| In the old Roman days things were very much | | | | meals of the day were made using broad beans, lentils |
| separated into male and female roles - so it was the | | | | and chick peas, lettuces, cabbages and leeks. The |
| wife's role to prepare every aspect of the dinner party | | | | available fruits at first were apples, pears, wild cherries, |
| since the husband had been at work all day. But it was | | | | plums, grapes, walnuts, almonds and chestnuts. Also |
| the servants who worked the hardest during the entire | | | | dates that were imported from north Africa. |
| afternoon gathering and preparing everything for the | | | | In the Roman days the dinner was made up of three |
| meal. | | | | main courses just is as the case today but there could |
| O.K. - who is lucky enough to have home help with | | | | be many more created to impress the guests.. which is |
| cooking these days? We may have to cut a few | | | | what the Roman dinner party was all about. |
| corners but you can still have fun with a Roman Dinner | | | | The first course, the starter, could consist of eggs |
| Party idea. | | | | prepared in many different ways. Also available to |
| Invite your guests over by sending them a photocopy | | | | guests would be a selection of salads, vegetables, |
| of a world map with an arrow to Rome and date it | | | | shellfish, snails or the Roman delicacy - roasted, |
| the 9th century B.C. or use a parchment scroll with | | | | stuffed dormice which are small rodents! Usually the |
| your text painted in ink then sealed with wax and tied | | | | dormice were stuffed with minced pork, pepper, pine |
| with an elegant ribbon. | | | | kernels, and liquamen which was a fish sauce. |
| Ask guests to come dressed Toga and all! Or as | | | | As for the main course, this would invariably consist of |
| guests arrive you could adorn them with a white sheet | | | | some meat dish like beef, lamb and pork - or fish. The |
| each. Togas looked like a white sheet about nine | | | | thing to remember is that you can try to cook an |
| yards long and were arranged very carefully, in a | | | | authentic meal (I will add some links to recipe sites in |
| stylish way. Elaborate jewellery was also popular. | | | | my blog where i will re post this article with links) but |
| To create an atmosphere in your dining room display | | | | you can also create what you think would look great |
| anything you have that is made of marble or mosaic | | | | and work. Like a large roasted chicken or meat |
| or hang a mural as a back drop. Drape garlands of ivy | | | | served on a lovely platter set in the middle of the table |
| or myrtle over tables or hanging overhead. Drape gold | | | | and surrounded by succulent roasted vegetables. |
| lame where it looks effective. | | | | The dinner party would end with a dessert such as |
| Imagine if you could create the appearance of | | | | fruit, cake or pudding. |
| columns. If you want to go all out you could arrange to | | | | The Roman meal would take place over a few hours |
| hire some columns. These are sometimes used as | | | | - they would take breaks between courses to allow |
| props for weddings and the like. | | | | each course to digest, to chat and to drink more wine. |
| The Romans ate at rectangular tables which were | | | | Wine is a must - it was the beverage of the Roman |
| low to the ground and surrounded at three sides by | | | | world like it was with the Ancient Greeks. Mulsum was |
| low couches. The men would recline as they ate - the | | | | a very popular honeyed wine. |
| women would sit. But we can be equal these days! | | | | After the meal guests would assemble in a main room |
| The tables would hold jugs of wine and bowls of fruit | | | | to listen to poetry being recited or for a reading from |
| along with tepid water so the Romans could clean | | | | one the classics and then they would be given a tour |
| their hands between each course. One thing to keep in | | | | of the mosaics and art works so as to further |
| mind with a Roman dinner party is that the | | | | impress. |
| appearance and flavour of the food had to be just | | | | So there you have it. This is a fun idea and certainly |
| right - they were meticulous with their presentation. | | | | something different for your next dinner party. |