I was just watching Life of Brian, and the scene when Brian is selling the outlandish snacks got me wondering. Obviously tomato sauce and gnocchi weren't on the menu, but was Roman cuisine similar to modern Italian in any way? Pasta, basil, soft cheeses, that sort of thing?
hi! there have been a few questions about Italian cuisine, so check these out for previous responses
What was Roman/Early Middle Ages food like in Italy?
How different is food preparation/taste 2,000 years ago vs today?
What were some Old World cuisines like before the Columbian Exchange?
How did tomatoes become so important to Italian cooking?
How much culinary knowledge was exchanged between China and Italy esp regarding culinary techniques?
What was Italian food like before they were introduced to the tomato?