Cooking and Dining in Imperial Rome

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The book explores ancient Roman culinary traditions, attributing its recipes to the enigmatic figure of Caelius Apicius or the renowned gourmet Marcus Gavius Apicius. It features dishes that include silphium, a now-extinct ingredient, hinting at its origins in the first century CE. However, culinary historian Bruno Laurioux suggests that the existing manuscript dates from the fifth century, indicating a significant evolution in Roman cooking practices and the influence of the Middle Ages on its final form.