Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome Part 65

Horace II Sat. 8--_in patina porrecta_--a special dish to hold the cooked _murena_ and to display it to advantage.

Such special dishes are found in any good table service, to serve special purposes. Not so long ago special forks and knives were used for fish service which have been gradually discarded.

[455] SAUCE FOR BOILED LACERTUS FISH _IUS IN LACERTOS ELIXOS_ [1]

PEPPER, LOVAGE, c.u.mIN, GREEN RUE, ONIONS, HONEY, VINEGAR, BROTH, A LITTLE OIL; WHEN BOILING TIE WITH ROUX [2].

[1] _Lacertus_, an unidentified sea fish.

[2] Cf. note 3 to ? No. 448.

In G.-V. this formula precedes the above.

[456] SAUCE FOR BROILED FISH _IUS IN PISCE a.s.sO_

A SAUCE FOR [this] BROILED FISH MAKE THUS [1] PEPPER, LOVAGE, THYME, GREEN CORIANDER, HONEY, VINEGAR, BROTH, WINE, OIL, REDUCED MUST; HEAT AND STIR WELL WITH A WHIP OF RUE BRANCHES, AND TIE WITH ROUX.

[1] Tor. wanting in others.

[457] SAUCE FOR TUNNY _IUS IN THYNNO_

TUNNY, BY MEANS OF THIS SAUCE WILL BE MORE PALATABLE: [1] PEPPER, c.u.mIN, THYME, CORIANDER, ONIONS, RAISINS, VINEGAR, HONEY, WINE, AND OIL; HEAT, TIE WITH ROUX, AND SERVE FOR DINNER [2].

[1] and [2] first and last sentences from Tor., wanting in others.

[458] SAUCE FOR BOILED TUNNY _IUS IN THYNNO ELIXO_

PEPPER, LOVAGE, THYME, CRUSHED HERBS [1], ONIONS, FIG DATES [or fig wine] HONEY, VINEGAR, BROTH, OIL, MUSTARD AND TIE [2].

[1] _Condimenta mortaria_--herbs crushed in the "mortar"; also pulverized spices.

[2] "and tie" wanting in List. Leave it out, and you have an acceptable _vinaigrette_--a cold sauce for cold fish.

[459] SAUCE FOR BROILED TOOTH FISH _IUS IN DENTICE a.s.sO_ [1]

SAUCE FOR BROILED TOOTH [1] FISH IS MADE THUS [2] PEPPER, LOVAGE, CORIANDER, MINT, DRY RUE, COOKED QUINCES [3], HONEY, WINE, BROTH, OIL; HEAT AND TIE WITH ROUX.

[1] _Dentex_; Hum. _dentex forma auratae similis, verum major_--the tooth-fish is similar to the dory in shape, though larger.

[2] Tor. sentence wanting in other texts.

[3] _Malum Cydonic.u.m._

[460] BOILED TOOTHFISH _IN DENTICE ELIXO_ [1]

PEPPER, DILL, c.u.mIN, THYME, MINT, GREEN RUE, HONEY, VINEGAR, BROTH, WINE, A LITTLE OIL, HEAT AND TIE WITH ROUX.

[1] Ex List.; wanting in Tor.

[461] SAUCE FOR DORY _IUS IN PISCE AURATA_ [1]

A SEASONING FOR DORY IS MADE THUS [2] PEPPER, LOVAGE, CARRAWAY, ORIGANY, RUE BERRIES, MINT, MYRTLE BERRIES, YOLKS OF EGG, HONEY, VINEGAR, OIL, WINE, BROTH; HEAT AND USE IT SO.

[1] _Aurata_--the "golden" dory. Very esteemed fish.

Martial, III, Ep. 90:

_Non omnis laudem preliumque aurate meretur: Sed cui solus erit concha Lucrina cibus_

[2] Tor. wanting in other texts.

[462] SAUCE FOR BROILED DORY.

_IUS IN PISCE AURATA a.s.sA_

A SAUCE WHICH WILL MAKE BROILED DORY MORE TASTY CONSISTS OF [1]

PEPPER, CORIANDER, DRY MINT, CELERY SEED, ONIONS, RAISINS, HONEY, VINEGAR, WINE, BROTH AND OIL.

[463] SAUCE FOR SEA SCORPION [1]

_IUS IN SCORPIONE ELIXO_

PEPPER, CARRAWAY, PARSLEY, FIGDATE WINE, HONEY, VINEGAR, BROTH, MUSTARD, OIL AND REDUCED WINE.

[1] Sea scorpion, boiled like sh.e.l.lfish, with the above ingredients; the cold meat is separated from the sh.e.l.l and is eaten with _vinaigrette_ sauce.

[464] WINE SAUCE FOR FISH _IN PISCE NOGARUM_

CRUSH PEPPER, RUE, AND HONEY; MIX IN RAISIN WINE, BROTH, REDUCED WINE; HEAT ON A VERY SLOW FIRE.

[465] ANOTHER WAY _ALITER_

THE ABOVE, WHEN BOILING, MAY BE TIED WITH ROUX.

III

EEL