Sodexo Prestige puts Roman feast on the menu at Great North Museum

Diners at the museum will be given the opportunity to taste authentic recipes and to hear from an expert about food in Roman times. The menu includes nettle soup, laurel and fig-braised pork ham, fricassee of veal and a more contemporary offering, gnocchi a la romana, served with leeks and young beets and pumpkin in stock with cumin. For dessert, diners can tuck into a non-pastry custard tart and strawberries served with black pepper. The menu has been put together using authentic Roman favourites, although the museum has steered away from some of the more unusual ancient dishes such as baked dormice. The feast is one of a number of events which will take place as part of the EAT! Festival in the Newcastle area. In addition to the feast, Roman expert Lindsay Allason-Jones, director of the Centre for Disciplinary Artefact Studies at Newcastle University, will be talking to guests about life in Roman Britain and their love of food. Paul Weild, Sodexo Prestige sales manager for Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said: "The Romans loved their banquets and food was a huge part of their everyday life. They sometimes had four or five meals a day and for the upper classes lavish banquets were a regular occurrence. We're hoping to bring some of that Roman spirit and love of fine food to our event."