This chapter was boring to me. It felt to me like it went on about fish and different salt sauces. What was interesting was the origin of salary. I would have never thought that salary came from salt. This is because salt isn't a substance that is worth much today. Back then salt was extremely valuable.
Garum seemed like a delicacy because some thought it was gross while others used it on many of their dishes. Garum was an upper class sauce. It was used in "elaborate" dishes. It reminds me of wesabe sauce. It goes with raw Salmon to balance out the taste. That sauce is disgusting. I don't know how anyone can eat it. If I lived back then I would be apart of the people that found garum gross. What was also surprising that they made garum for the Jewish community.
I was surprised to read that Romans had purple dye. It was cool that murex produced the purple dye. The legend of Hercules dog made me think that Hercules had a sharpae or a chow. If anyone doesn't know they have a purple tongue.
Some how I just don't see how rotten fish organs could be appetizing let alone the juice in it. Now we get some of our fish foods from them, like sardines and Tuna. I don't like fish so I really wouldn't care for it. I' glad it vanished. I would think that garum could make people sick, but the chapter didn't say anything about that. ( i could have missed it)
6 comments:
I totally agree this chapter was dull compared to the first three. I thought it was interesting how some people liked the sauce and others did not. It is just like people's food tastes today. I thought it was kind of weird how Hercules's dog helped the Romans discover purple dye. I think it is really disgustig that they ate the guts of the fish, but I do give the Romans props for using every part of the fish.
I thought it was interesting to find the origin of salary too! I always wondered about that, but now I know... I also would think that Garum would make people sick. I mean stewed together fish parts just doesn't sound appetizing or anything...
I've always heard that the Romans were very big on purple dye since it was a symbol of wealth. I didn't know that it had anything to do with salt though!
I didn't really like this chapter, but I never really do anyhow. I can't stand when they put in all the different recipes because I really don't care.
Garum is so nasty! I can't believe people ate it. I wouldn't of. I really don't like fishy stuff anyhow. I don't like fishy business.
I thought that this chapter was really nasty with the foods. I really wasn't too happy besides with the salted veggies. I was ok then. After reading all of it though, I do not want to eat salty foods.
Katie I am with you about being one of the people who thought garum was gross. I does not even sound good to me and the whole thing about the Salmon sauce I would not even try it. Haha. Also I liked the whole origins of words.
Sorry it was "boring", but sometimes in non-fiction, not everything is made to "entertain" you. When I assign something to read in class I do it so you can learn, and sometimes learning can't always be fun.
Word origins have always facinated me, and like you I also thought it was cool that we get words like Salad, salary, soldier, Salami and many more from salt.
That Garum stuff just sounds nasty, but I guess like you said it was considered a great dish or spread for bread and the like. Good connection to Wasabe (sushi) stuff. I think I wouldn't be able to stomach Garum myself. I forgot about the Jewish version of Garum, as so many of their stuff has to be Kosher, it would seem odd I guess.
Didn't know about the purple tounge thing. I learn a lot from student blogs. :-)
Nice reflections, and cool connections in this post.
Mr. Farrell
Post a Comment