Olives and wine, the latter diluted with water, made a refreshing snack for ancient Greeks and Romans. The native Egyptians, in contrast, preferred beer.
Coaxed by Muslims’ adept irrigation, the fertile lands around Córdoba yielded oranges, figs, and a host of other fruits. They enriched a diet of mutton, chicken, and beans—all seasoned with spices procured along far-flung trade routes. Mint tea was a favorite drink.
Place and time—which once severely curtailed menus—pose no limit to today’s consumers. A single phone call can bring pizza or chinese food or almost anything else to one’s door.