[4] If Vitellius never invented any other dish than this
one, his gluttony was overrated. As a gastronomer he may
be safely relegated to the vast multitude of ill-advised
people whose craving for carbohydrates (which is perhaps
pathological) causes them to accumulate a surplus of
fat. This was fatal to Vitellius and his faithful court
baker who is said to have stuck to his master to the
last. The poor emperor's _embonpoint_ proved cumbersome
when he fled the infuriated mob. Had he been leaner he
might have effected a "getaway." He was dragged through
the streets and murdered, Dec. 21 or 22, A.D. 69.
[190] ANOTHER WAY
_ALITER PISAM SIVE FABAM_
WHEN [the peas or beans are] SKIMMED MIX BROTH, HONEY, MUST, CUMIN,
RUE, CELERY SEED, OIL AND WINE, STIR [1]. SERVE WITH CRUSHED PEPPER
AND SAUSAGE [2].
[1] G.-V. _tudiclabis_; Tor. _misceas_.
[2] _cum isiciis_--bits of forcemeat.
[191] ANOTHER WAY
_ALITER PISAM SIVE FABAM_
WHEN [the peas or beans are] SKIMMED FLAVOR THEM WITH CRUSHED PERSIAN
[1] LASER, BROTH AND MUST; POUR A LITTLE OIL OVER AND SERVE.
[1] Parthian, from _Parthia_, a country of Asia.
[192] A TEMPTING DISH OF PEAS
_PISAM ADULTERAM _[1]_ VERSATILEM_
THIS ADROIT, TEMPTING DISH OF PEAS IS PREPARED IN THIS MANNER: [2]
COOK PEAS; BRAINS OR SMALL BIRDS, OR BONED THRUSHES, LUCANIAN SAUSAGE,
CHICKEN LIVERS AND GIBLETS--ALL OF WHICH ARE PUT IN A SAUCE PAN;
BROTH, OIL AND A BUNCH OF LEEKS, GREEN CORIANDER FINELY CHOPPED, COOK
WITH THE BRAINS; CRUSH PEPPER, LOVAGE AND BROTH [3].
[1] Sch., Dann. crafty, i.e. not genuine. _Adulteram_
cannot here be used in its most accepted sense, because
the peas are genuine, and no attempt is made to
adulterate or "fake" this dish in any way, shape or
form. Never before have we applied the term "seductive"
to any dish, but this is just what _adultera_ means.
"Tempting" of course is quite common.
[2] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.
[3] This formula is incomplete or mutilated, the last
sentence breaks off in the middle--very likely a
description of the sauce or condiments belonging to the
peas.
Each and every component of this (really tempting) dish
must be cooked separately; they are then composed in a
dish, nicely arranged, with the peas in the center,
surrounded by the several morsels, with an appropriate
gravy made from the natural liquor or juices of the
component parts poured over the dish.
[193] PEAS À LA VITELLIUS
_PISAM SIVE FABAM VITELLIANAM_ [1]
PEAS OR BEANS IN THE STYLE OF VITELLIUS PREPARE THUS: [2] [The peas or
beans] ARE COOKED, WHEN CAREFULLY SKIMMED, ADD LEEKS, CORIANDER AND
MALLOW FLOWERS [3]: WHEN DONE, CRUSH PEPPER, LOVAGE, ORIGANY, AND
FENNEL SEED MOISTENED WITH BROTH [and put it] INTO A SAUCE PAN WITH
WINE [4], ADDING OIL, HEAT THOROUGHLY AND WHEN BOILING STIR WELL; PUT
GREEN OIL ON TOP AND SERVE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account