In the beginning was the egg …

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In the cosmogonies, the creation stories, of many cultures, the answer is surprisingly clear: the cosmic egg (also: world egg) is the origin of all things. Or is it not? For who created the cosmic egg? The myth of a primordial world egg was known in many...

NEW: Vegetus – Vegetarian Recipes from the Past

VEGETUS (Latin for lively or vivacious) presents a number of historical vegetarian recipes from the Ancient Near East, Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance that can be easily recreated at home, in a standard household kitchen. The broad time frame of this book allows an overview of traditions, developments and innovations in the...

Shedeh wine from Ancient Egypt

Shedeh was a highly appreciated kind of wine in Ancient Egypt. Jars of shedeh have been found in the tombs of nobility, including the one of Tutankhamun. Residual analyses from 2005 (1) suggest that is was made from red grapes, nothing special there, but there must have been some treatment that made it special. Unfortunately...

Egg magic and magic eggs

Chicken eggs laid on Good Friday were once considered particularly powerful. According to popular belief, they could either predict the harvest of the coming year or, eaten raw or cooked, protect against disease. A Philosopher's Egg And this is a Philosopher's Egg. A what? According to E. Cobham Brewer (Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 1894),...

2022 workshops

Street photography workshops with Manoocher Deghati  Learn from a globally renowned photojournalist at his vineyard in the picturesque Valle d’Itria: This workshop with Manoocher Deghati will be focused on how to approach people and how to establish a friendly relationship to make everyone feel comfortable with taking photos and having their photos taken. Then you’ll...

Now also in Italian: “LA BIBBIA IN TAVOLA – 40 ricette dall’Eden a Gerusalemme”

In questo libro di cucina biblico riccamente illustrato, l'archeologa e storica culinaria Ursula Janssen presenta 40 ricette dei luoghi e del tempo della Bibbia.Grano, orzo, uva, fichi, melograni, olive e miele sono i "Sette Tipi" biblici alla base della cucina della Terra Santa e dell’intera regione del Mediterraneo. Certo, c'è da interpretare; in fondo, la...

A Feast of Fools and the Kings’ Cake

“Feast of Fools“ denominates the ancient tradition of choosing a king or queen for the day who plays a ceremonial or simply festive role for that day. The person in question is usually chosen by placing a bean or a token into a dish, often a cake. This always takes place in the days around...

From Eden to Jerusalem: 40 Recipes from the Time of the Bible

In this richly illustrated cookbook, I present 40 recipes from the places and time of the Bible, offering insight into the prehistoric and early historical mediterranean diet.  https://leggi.amazon.it/kp/embed?asin=B08LHML76D&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_udOLFb0XP9KAD Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and honey are the biblical "Seven Types" that form the basis of the cuisine not only of the Holy Land but...

Online workshop: Pasta making and its history

Pasta is commonly associated with Italy, and indeed there are more than 300 types of pasta to be found on its peninsula! Join me on Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 18:00 PM CET (12:00 PM EDT), for fresh handmade pasta making from scratch. We'll prepare cavatelli, a precious recipe from Southern Italy. I will also introduce you...