Deipnosofisti, dotti a banchetto

Scene dal Simposio dalla Tomba del Tuffatore

This book is a collection of conversation made during the banquet offered by the rich roman Larense(II sec AD).

Dominant themes are linked at the food in all possible form: for example on what was the best recipe for cook soup or perfect mix for wine and water.

"... he plays on homonymy of optòs, cooked and visible, and claimed to joke that the raw fish as you can see is optòs"

Laso da Ermione

the Seneca's feast

In this extract of De tranquillitate animi written by Seneca, it's possible to see how he preferred a very simple lifestyle, based on unlaboured and raw food, than very elabourated nourishment. We can see that also the choice of the forniture and furnishing reflects this simple lifestyle.

“Mi piace il cibo che non debbano elaborare e sorvegliare stuoli di servi, non ordinato molti giorni prima né servito dalle mani di molti, ma facile a reperirsi e semplice, un cibo che non ha nulla di ricercato o di prezioso, che non verrà a mancare da nessuna parte si vada, non oneroso per il patrimonio né per il corpo, tale da non uscire poi per la stessa via dalla quale è entrato. Mi piacciono il servo alla buona e lo schiavetto rustico, l'argenteria massiccia ereditata dal padre contadino che non reca nomi di artigiani, e una tavola che non si fa notare per la varietà delle venature e che non è famosa in città per il frequente susseguirsi di padroni eleganti, ma che sia improntata alla praticità, tale da non trattenere su di sé gli occhi di nessun commensale per il piacere né accenderli di invidia”.

De Tranquillitate animi, Seneca

Philosophy in Chinese Cooking Culture

Chinese cooking culture reflected in all aspects. Ancient Chinese philosophers often made analogies between their ideas and cooking styles. 
For example:
1. 老子在《道德經》中提到："治大國，若烹小鮮"。
Laozi said in “Tao Te Ching” that "ruling a large country is like cooking small fishes."
2. 孔子曾提到："食不厭精，燴不厭細"以比喻身正和嚴格要求自己。
Confucius said “eat no rice but is of the finest quality, no meat but is finely minced” to express that people should be strict with themselves.
3. 班固在《漢書》中寫道："王者以民為本，而民以食為天"，將飲食看成是治理國家首要的問題。
Ban Gu wrote in "Book of the Later Han" that "emperors regard people as the foundation of their empire, and people regard food as their prime want". He thought eating was the most important thing to rule a country.
4. "君子遠庖廚"，來源于《禮記》。意為心胸廣大的人應該仁慈，不應進入廚房宰殺動物以備食用。
 “Gentleman should be far away from kitchen.” (from “Book of Rites”) means that people who have a broad mind should be merciful. They shouldn’t go into the kitchen to kill animals for eating.
5. 藥王孫思邈說過："救急之道在于藥，安身之本在于食。"
Sun Simiao (King of traditional Chinese medicine) said "eating is the foundation of the health".
6. 《本草綱目》作者李時珍也有"藥補不如食補"的說法。
The author of “Bencao Gangmu” – Li Shizhen thought that "food cures better than medicine".