Transcript tabernae - WLPCS Middle School

Roman Cuisine
It seems that the Ancient Romans often ate out.
An Ancient Roman might choose to eat out at a
thermopolium, which was a small pub-like shop
selling warmed wines and the ancient equivalent
of fast food.
There were also many hot food shops and
taverns where meals could be purchased and
consumed.
All the usual food of the Romans could be
found at these shops or tabernae, including
hot sausages, bread, cheese, eggs, dates,
and, of course, wine!
Another place for the Ancient Romans to
eat out was at the baths. The baths often
had food shops, as well as libraries, haircutting facilities and other comforts for
Roman Citizens.
Most poor people in Ancient Rome did not
have any cooking facilities in their homes.
As they lived in tiny apartments without
ovens. They could take wheat to the local
baker and have their bread baked for them.
Poor people would have saved part of their
evening food for their breakfast the
following day.
The first meal of the day was known as the
ientaculum. For the vast majority of Romans, and
Roman slaves, this would have just been plain
water and, maybe, a piece of bread.
Wealthier Ancient Romans would have eaten
bread, honey, and fruit in the morning and to drink
they also, would have had plain water or diluted
wine.
Sometimes for the wealthy, there would have been
cheese with the bread at breakfast. Also olives,
and raisins might be eaten with the bread.
Dinner, cena, for the wealthier Ancient Romans was the main
meal of the day and more time was spent in its preparation
and eating.
Most people in Ancient Rome would have eaten bread with
fruit and vegetables at dinner time or a hot wheat porridge
known as puls.
Poorer people, and slaves, would have had only bread for
dinner while the richer people would have had different kinds
of meat - pork, chicken and rabbit, as well as fruits and
vegetables and fish.
On special occasions wealthier Ancient Romans would have
eaten more exotic meats like ostrich and flamingo.
The Ancient Romans were very fond of fish sauce - garum,
which they used to flavor their meals. Garum was a salty, fishbased sauce - very aromatic.
It seems that the Ancient Romans were as fond of "fast food" and
"snack food" as we are.
There were literally thousands of corner food shops and taverns
serving food and wine in Ancient Rome.
People would have bought food on the way to and from the
gladiator games.
Sometimes, animals that had been slaughtered in the games were
quickly cooked and served to the Romans - this included giraffe and
lion meat!
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