Roman Course Meals
In ancient Rome people liked to eat meals that had multiple courses, as can be seen in the picture to the left. In ancient Rome a family would first have an appetizer composed of vegetables with light meat dishes. The main meal consisted of bread, vegetables, and meats, such as rabbit, fish, swans, etc. For dessert, they might have had gelato which was made with milk, cream, sugar, and fruit, but only the rich could afford gelato. After the dinner, the servants, if the family had any, would eat the food that was left over.
Romans didn't sit in chairs to eat because it was more comfy to lie on their side on a lectus, which was just a couch with no back. In addition, when Romans ate, they didn't use napkins, but they wiped the grease and oils off their fingers with bread, and then ate the bread. When a guest wanted to take some leftover food home, the host of the dinner would take the food and wrap it in a cloth.
Romans didn't sit in chairs to eat because it was more comfy to lie on their side on a lectus, which was just a couch with no back. In addition, when Romans ate, they didn't use napkins, but they wiped the grease and oils off their fingers with bread, and then ate the bread. When a guest wanted to take some leftover food home, the host of the dinner would take the food and wrap it in a cloth.
Today's Course Meals
Today, course meals are still served in restaurants and in homes. If you were to have a three- course meal, the appetizers would likely consist of vegetables, bread, and small meat dishes. The main course is still the same as in ancient Rome: mostly meat with vegetables. There are more desserts now than in Roman times, including pies, cookies, cakes, and ice cream. You can still have gelato today but its not just for the rich anymore.. The make-up of a three-course meal is different depending on the country.
Most people now in Western culture eat their meals in chairs. Sometimes people sit on a sofa. When people want to take food home from a restaurant, they usually ask a waiter to put the leftover food in a take-out box.
Most people now in Western culture eat their meals in chairs. Sometimes people sit on a sofa. When people want to take food home from a restaurant, they usually ask a waiter to put the leftover food in a take-out box.