Inside Roman emperors’ outrageously lavish dinner parties

Plus one highly illegal honey. [View in your browser.]( [Gastro Obscura]( [There’s ‘Lavish’ and then There’s Ancient Roman Dinner Party Lavish]( [From Nero’s revolving dining room to Augustus’s rigged lottery, no one partied harder than the Ancient Romans. Even among the notable celebrants, a few Roman emperors led the field with extravagant dinner affairs that bordered on debaucherous. Nero famously dined in a circular banquet hall that revolved, and he panels fitted with pipes to sprinkle perfume down upon his guests. Others were so gluttonous they reportedly helped themselves to meals left in sacrifice to the gods, which may have contributed to their short reign.]( [Read More]( [Amish Soul Food’s Sweet and Sour Origins]( [In Pennsylvania Dutch Country, African Americans have created a distinct and delicious style of food born from generations of Amish and Southern Black communities co-mingling their cuisines. Chef Chris Scott, who grew up in the region, has fond memories of his Nana serving up the “Seven Sweets and Sours” of Amish cuisine—a set of condiments ubiquitous at Amish meals—along with meals such as okra chow chow, a Southern relish with West African roots. Gastro Obscura spoke with Scott about the definition of Amish soul food, parallels between Amish and African American histories, and the future of soul food.]( [Read More]( [A Sausage Seller Traded Michelin Fame for His Amish Faith]( [From soul food to sausage, we turn to another Amish chef making a name for himself. Matthew Secich got his start in high-paced, frenetic kitchens, including that of a Michelin-starred restaurant, before choosing to leave it behind in pursuit of a new life. He converted to the Amish faith, moved to Maine, and opened a small shop that sells high-quality meats, from andouille and kielbasa sausage to cured meat sticks, the artisan answer to gas-station jerky.]( [Read More]( [The Pricey, Trippy Honey Sold on the Black Market]( [When bees feed on the pollen of rhododendron flowers, the resulting honey can pack a hallucinogenic punch. It’s called mad honey, and it has a slightly bitter taste and a reddish color. And, if you believe the tales, it can also help relieve hypertension and serve as a sweet substitute for Viagra. It’s also highly illegal in certain parts of the world.]( [Read More]( [Gastro Obscura Courses]( [Indigenous Dishes of North America]( [In this four-part lecture series, Mariah Gladstone of Indigikitchen uses seasonal Indigenous foods and dishes to teach us about Native land management, agricultural practices, and Indigenous nutrition. By the end of our time together, you’ll not only know how to prepare four seasonal dishes, you’ll learn ways to incorporate foods from your environment.]( [Enroll now »]( [Add a place to Atlas Obscura]( [Forward this email to a friend]( [d0b0110c-adef-46fe-a37c-c6a4a5bd18fe.png]( [5d9568f4-2a02-4efe-bdea-03a3f27b1060.png]( [03d8ab17-efe7-4adf-ad26-f53203d8a858.png]( [b37902f5-67f5-4692-b86e-4d9acfa9ffe1.png]( [923671d1-2471-4bd0-bf83-4f600122ecc5.png]( [0bbd485c-ec53-4799-8847-87e8fbfbb39c.png]( [See all of our Newsletters]( [View in Browser]( • [Forward to a Friend]( [atlasobscura.com]( • info@atlasobscura.com 61 Greenpoint Ave #210, Brooklyn, NY 11222 [Unsubscribe {EMAIL}](