Medieval Recipe: Orange Omelette for Pimps and Harlots (Italy, 15th c.)

[@ABAlphaBeta]

I should first add that I focused a bit too narrowly on medieval food science and less on *why* you'd want to feed people. Rather than a theoretical application, there's a much more practical one: Bockenheim was the 'cuisinier du commun' - not the chef of the pope, but of the pontifical court and its visitors, which might well have received pimps and harlots for simple carnal reasons (as they were unmarried and increasingly educated, adultery with them was more tolerated than with other women). Another point is that the consistency is up for debate - I followed (broadly) Bruno Laurioux's proposed recipe, but rather ironically he is more favourable to the idea it was custard-like (some people also get this consistency when cooking!). Below is the recipe and the IPA transcription with which I devised to try and imitate a broadly Alsatian pronunciation of Renaissance Latin. INGREDIENTS ova (3 eggs) pomerancius (1 bitter orange or 1 orange mixed with 1/2 lemon’s juice) zucarum (1 tablespoon sugar) oleum olive (1 tablespoon olive oil) [unmentioned] (salt to taste) TRANSCRIPTION (broadly) [sık fɔk frı’ta:tεm de pome̞'rɔntsejıs || re̞'tsejpə ‘o:fa: pεr'kʊsa: | kʊm pome̞'rɔntsejıs ɔt 'lejbıtʊm tu:ʊm | εt εks’tra:he̞ ınde̞ ‘su:kʊm | εt ‘mıtə ɔt ıla: ‘o:fa: kʊm ‘su:kɔro: || pɔst re̞'tsejpə ‘o:le̞ʊm o’li:fə | βe̞l se̞'gejmınə | εt fɔk kɔlı’fi:e̞ri: ın pɔ’tεla: | εt ‘mıtə ıla: ‘o:fa: ‘ıntʊs || εt ˈe:rɪt pro: rʊfı’a:nıs εt lεkɔ’tri:tsıbʊs]

[@ABAlphaBeta]

Fun fact: the word recipe comes from the first word of the instructions in medieval cookbooks, 'take...', like here (take eggs...).

[@KeithR2002]

In eastern europe i e. Ex ussr states , prescriptions are written as recipes in latin. It starts with Recipe and follows up the indication as Da , imperative : to give. Even the genitive us preserved when giving medicine. Therefore the russian word i e for a prescription is basically рецепт or in English Recipe.

[@Houndskullcrownemoji]

If it's for "pimps and Harlots" it's interesting that it calls for sugar. I always thought that prior to around the 18th century, sugar was seen as a luxury item in europe.

[@ABAlphaBeta]

It was (within reason) - but don't forget that this is the papal court serving quite a wealthy type of 'harlot' and procurer. There may even be a game going on here: bitter oranges are good for the warm, bitter womb of a sex worker (needless to say, this value judgment is historical and not mine) and the warm, bitter personality of a pimp, but the sugar counterbalances it. While the text doesn't quite deserve deep philosophical analysis either, and this may be a stretch, it might be an indicator of Christian piety in trying to save them - or just a courtesy to influential members of court to make the pill easier to swallow, so to speak.

[@LeonidasArg2021]

Please do Victorian recipes speaking in 19th Century English :3

[@Saltiren]

This video is so interesting! I love learning about the past and how people lived. This recipe gives insight into not only how one class of people interpreted another's way of life and how they lived, but how they frame it in a context that suits them. "For pimps and harlots" one a big crude bit also, describes the design of the dish as the author envisioned it. I enjoyed understanding more of the author's intent rather than the dish, but I can't say I don't wanna try it as well :)

[@LOTUS-ARTS001]

Mind if I use this recipe?

[@velazquezarmouries]

The perfect breakfast omelette

[@gui_777_]

Wow, I basically started do the same recipe for the diner several times 3 weeks ago. But with lemoon, without sugar, and with rosemary powder.

[@rosaline953]

Interesting! :0

[@paritoshd]

Yes! More cooking vids! Loved the awkward flip.

[@ABAlphaBeta]

More are coming! I wanted the next one to be the earliest medieval recipe, but it's a bit boring and has toxic plants... alongside difficult ones to even find in Europe

[@fedor261]

lol i just wanna cook eggs and i see that video

[@LOTUS-ARTS001]

So I made it. (First time really making something like this) I substituted lemon instead of orange cause I don't have oranges. Imo 9/10

[@LOTUS-ARTS001]

Alpha. You should do more of these

[@aymanachkaj3333]

Wow, and speaking in latin, beat that Max Miller. Disclaimer: I am joking 😅.

[@ShinigamisBlade]

This is awesome! I would love to see more videos like that

[@izzatfauzimustafa6535]

Orange-flavoured omelettes? *jazz music stops*

[@smakarov24]

Now, this makes me want to see a Proto-Indian version of this recipe.

[@ABAlphaBeta]

Eat the egg, shell included, and dance on the tombs of your enemies

[@smakarov24]

Haha!

[@Blublod]

Great video! I wonder why they would have used sugar and not salt as an ingredient.

[@ABAlphaBeta]

A few different factors come to mind: different tastes, wider availability and price of sugar, and most of all, salt was mainly seen as medicinal (and not that useful at that) until a small revolution happened a little after the publication of this cookbook where the idea of sweet vs salty was born. All food was medicinal before then anyway, for those who didn't eat for subsistence, and salt wasn't thought to be useful in most cases.

[@lorenzoc.b.9809]

oh my, that was your first time flipping an omelette, isn't it?

[@ABAlphaBeta]

To quote Sonic, "Uh... meow?"

[@LK041]

really weird accent in the latin

[@theheroboy1]

Speaking in Latin makes it 100x more medieval

[@cristiamjulianayalape]

Wow! Such proeficience with latin!

[@rubarahman4655]

Yummy!! 😋😋😋