Students dig into the past during ’Ancient Food Day’

'Ancient Food Day,' hosted by the Classics Student Union at U of T, brought together students to sample a collection of food and drink from the ancient Greek and Roman periods Did you know Ancient Greeks enjoyed a snack that resembled Timbits? They were called enkrides  - small golden cakes made with a simple cheese dough, fried in olive oil and eaten with generous amounts of honey and pepper. Enkrides were just one of the many dishes students from the University of Toronto's department of classics in the Faculty of Arts & Science enjoyed during a recent "Ancient Food Day." Hosted by the Classics Student Union, about 40 students gathered at the Lillian Massey Building to sample a collection of food and drinks from ancient Greek and Roman periods. "We believe food is the perfect vehicle for gathering people and communities," says John Liao , a fourth-year classics student, a member of Trinity College and the president of the Classics Student Union. "We're thrilled to share the fruits of our own learning and love for the ancient world by offering students a unique opportunity to try real recipes from Greek and Latin sources and adapted to modern cooking." An apricot dessert, made with fresh apricots in honey and wine  For appetizers, students were served parsnip fries. They were sliced in thick cuts, fried in olive oil and served with a sweet and sour sauce made with vinegar, fish sauce, honey and spices. Some of the main dishes included bite-sized tuna steaks served in a Roman sauce for fish made with honey, wine, oil and Mediterranean herbs.