Greek and Roman Influence on Food Today

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How Greece and Rome Influenced Food Today No matter where you go, food is essential. It surrounds you. It is present on almost every street, especially in large cities. However, the current American society did not conjure up all of its recipes on its own. Many of the items used in cooking today are derived from early Greece and Rome. Three main foodstuffs used now are wine, seasonings, and olives. All three of these items are important to the American diet, whether one is aware of it or not. In fact, they are so important that food today would be nothing like it is without the heavy culinary influence of the Roman and Greek people. Wine was an extremely important element in the Greek and Roman lifestyle, particularly in Greece. For religious purposes, the Catholic church used red wine to simulate the blood of Christ while they took communion (Helstosky, 47). The Greeks often used wine in their cooking, as well. This method was taken up by the Romans who found that the flavor of wine enhanced their typically bland dishes. Unlike Roman meals, Greek foods were known to be flavorful and interesting. Therefore, Roman society adopted many of the Grecian cooking ways (7). For large parties or banquets, the Romans incorporated large quantities of this beverage into their feasts. “Banqueters would start off with drinking wine mixed with honey before the meal, then return to drinking wine mixed with water after the meal” (8). The Greeks and Romans had a large variety of wine, often adding herbs, spices, honey or even seawater to the drink. Some wines tasted like vinegar and were consumed immediately after mixing, while finer wines were left to mature (Alcock, 160). Today, the winery process is influenced heavily by these ancient civilizations. The wine is pressed, ingredients are added to enhance and sweeten the taste, and the beverage is then

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