This brief discussion on Byzantine food, far from in-depth, is designed to give some background to what is now classed as Greek and Turkish food. Byzantium, later named Constantinopole (in modern times: Istanbul), was a city on a peninsula, surrounded by water on three sides. It’s important to be clear that the citizens called themselves…
Byzantine Food
Malvasia Grapes
Malvasia grapes are, many believe, actually Monembasia grapes. Monembasia was a Byzantine fortress on a rocky promontory on the south of the Peloponnesus, it was linked to the mainland by only 1 road. Its name literally meant “only 1 way of entrance” from the Greek “monos” (mono, only one) plus “embasis” (basically, entrance.) Venice besieged…
Murri
Murri was a fermented sauce that was used a great deal in Arabic cooking, mostly used from the 1200s to the 1400s. It wasn’t meant to be consumed on its own, or used at the table; its strong, salty taste made it ideal for use as a cooking ingredient in small amounts. It was used…