Archaeologists Reveal Roman Finds ...and give some insight to the later English inventions of jellied eel and Marmite:

[...] A display Monday of artifacts found in the ruins of a first century garrison in northwestern England suggests the frontier was not all that grim.

For example, there was a large jar containing an exotic fish paste made of tuna, dates, honey, vinegar, spices and herbs, a delicacy that Roman officers in particular liked to eat with hard-boiled eggs. [...]

The amphora containing the tuna mixture was found outside the commanding officer's house, or praetorium. It is thought the mixture was shipped to Luguvalium from the Spanish port of Cadiz, where there was a large industry processing tuna fish.

Clay panels on the amphora proclaim that the contents are of superior quality and a Latin inscription in ink reads "Tunny (tuna) fish relish from Tangiers, old," believed to be a reference to the style of sauce rather than its origin. [...]

Yummy!

PORTVMNVS (portrayed by John Cleese): Hail, dear; what have we for supper this night?

PEIRENE (portrayed by Terry Jones): Tunny Helper with Dates, and quit tracking dirt into the house! Wipe your caligae outside! AND DON'T PUT THAT PUGIO ON THE TABLE!

PORTVMNVS: Apologies. Is that the Tangiers Old Style?

PEIRENE: It's just as good...go wash your hands.

PORTVMNVS: Does it thus have the luscious dates, and the savory herbs and spices?

PEIRENE: Oh good grief! Yes, it has dates, they couldn't put "Dates" on the amphora without it actually having dates, now could they?! Dates are dates--so what if the pieces are smaller. AND YES, herbs and spices, too, and something called Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil and Glyceryl Monostearate--just like they have in Tangiers. Happy?

PORTVMNVS: Well, those store brands...

PEIRENE: Look, if you don't like the store brands all the time, you're either going to have to march in there to Marcellvs tomorrow and demand a higher take from the customs house, or arrange some sort of bad accident for him and get a promotion!

PORTVMNVS: It is not that, my dear; simply that the Gaels and Picts are very naughty about putting rabbit droppings in the boxes and trying to pass them off as dates...

PEIRENE: FINE! You go get it, and YOU cook it!

PORTVMNVS: ::mumbles under breath::
posted by Terry at 4:58:00 PM