Is Anthimus' work "the oldest European medieval cookbook"? Well, it IS six centuries older than a twelfth century book that has been touted as exactly that. In the sixth century an Ostrogoth king sent a Byzantine physician to one of the Frankish courts where the food, being for the rich, was essentially Roman. Anthimus wrote his host a long letter on diet - De Observatione Ciborum - intended mainly for medical purposes but often outlining how to prepare the food in question. Most of the food Anthimus mentions shows Roman influence, but he also mentions specific Byzantine and Frankish specialties. This translation includes notes on Anthimus' work as both a Roman and a medieval cookbook and also provides an overview of the cuisine the work addresses, an introduction to the very concept of a "dietetic" and comparisons of others with Anthimus' own, a list of Anthimus' remedies for specific ailments, an overview of his ideas and approach. This new edition adds a look at Frankish food in general and (for the print edition) an index (3b update to hare recipe).
