WilhelmHistory

[WIP] Her Favorite Delicacies

Added 2023-08-08 09:05:25 +0000 UTC

Octavia is a famous gourmet, but her all-time favorite delicacies are a little bit different from the sumptuous dishes at the banquet.

Julia Octavia Graecina is my ancient Roman OC. She is a Roman noblewoman during Trajan's reign (specifically, 115 AD). She lost her husband 14 years ago in a Dacian War. Since then, she has had numerous affairs with nobles, gladiators, chariot racers, and even her domestic slaves.

Kabiros is Octavia's "favorite" servant for obvious reasons. He was born in Gaul but sold as a slave after the plague killed his entire family. He is fluent in Latin because his hometown was near the Roman garrison post. Octavia is mounting Kabiros in this drawing.

Other servants are carrying trays containing various foodstuffs. On the left are a glass of wine and the dessert called Dulcia Piperata. The servant on the right is holding a tray full of pomegranate.

The glass ewer is based on a 2th century specimen from the Allaire Collection. Dulcia Piperata translates as 'peppered sweets'. Its recipe can be found in the Roman cookery book "De re coquinaria (On the Subject of Cooking)". The recipe is as follows:

[7.11.4] dulcia piperata: teres piper, mittis mel merum passum rutam. eo mittis nucleos nuces alicam elixatam. concisas nuces auellanas tostas adicies et inferes.

"Peppered sweets: pound pepper; add honey, wine, passum (raisin wine), and rue. Add to the mixture pine nuts, nuts and boiled alica (ground emmer wheat). Add chopped roasted hazelnuts and serve."