Cook, Florence

The Necropolis of Antinoe is located about 9.5 km south of Beni Hasan, in a village called Sheikh Abada, on the east bank of the Nile, in Egypt, about 300 km south of Cairo. Findings include various types of ceramic vessels (bowls, plates, balmers, censers) dated between the sixth and seventh centuries AD. The collection of ceramics, which is now kept at the Istituto Papirologico Vitelli in Florence (Italy) [58], has meant that the residues of the products that people cooked, stored or otherwise used in Roman Egypt can be chemically studied. The results described below relate to the analysis of residues of the dark material in two clay lamps (nos 718 and 809) of the collection. 

In India, it is an essential ingredient in the Bengali spice mixture panch phoron and in Chinese five-spice powders. In the west, fennel seed is a very common ingredient in Italian sausages and northern European rye breads. Many egg, fish and other dishes employ fresh or dried fennel leaves. Florence fennel is a key ingredient in some Italian and German salads, often tossed with chicory and avocado, or it can be braised and served as a warm side dish. One may also blanch and/or marinate the leaves, or cook them in risotto. In all cases, the leaves lend their characteristically mild, anise-like flavour. 

The author is indebted to several friends and colleagues for their valuable assistance in providing information relating to this subject matter and for helpful discussions. Particular mention must be made of E>r. C. Stassis, Dr. B.N. Harmon, Dr. G.H. Lander, Dr. N. Wakabayashi, Dr. S.G. Das, Dr. P.A. Lindgard, Dr. J. Jensen, Dr. W.J.L. Buyers and Renee Diehl. He also wishes to thank Dr. J.G. Houmann, Dr. J.F. Cooke, and Dr. J.J. Rhyne for sending copies of some of their recent work prior to publication. Thanks are also due to Florence Belcher for her patience and diligence with the manuscript. 

Bryce MR, Cooke G, Florence MA, John P, Perepichka DF, Dmitrili F, Polwart N, Rotello VM, Stoddard JF (2003) J Mater Chem 13 2111... 

---