Date Night
Dates have been around for thousands of years, used in appetizers, main courses, and desserts. In antiquity dates were THE premier sweetener (there was no chocolate — no sugar!).
Pliny the Elder warns of the dangers of overeating delicious dates:
Indeed, when in a fresh state they are so remarkably luscious that there would be no end to eating them, were it not for fear of the dangerous consequences that would be sure to ensue. (Natural History 13.9)
Follow food archaeologist Farrell Monaco as she prepares a simple yet delicious dish of dates and shares a brief history of this ancient treat.
About Farrell Monaco
Farrell Monaco is an experimental archaeologist and food writer whose research centers on food, food preparation, and food-related ceramics in the Roman Mediterranean. She has worked as a team member on Roman food archaeology projects, including at Pompeii. Farrell is well known for her adventures in experimental archaeology, especially her recreations of Roman recipes. Find them on her website. For Ancient Rome @Home she recreated a 2,000-year-old dessert of honeyed dates from a book of recipes by a cook named Apicius.
Dates for the Holidays
Let’s honor the determined little date Phoenix dactylifera. Inspired by dates regrown from archaeological seeds, Getty chefs have designed date-based recipes for your family to enjoy over the holidays.
Take note: These are serious holiday recipes! You need a kitchen, kitchen tools, and friends and family to hover and give their opinions about your techniques.
Check out the menu by executive pastry chef Joanne Ponvanit and catering chef Gino Pineda:
Date Recipes
Dig Deeper into Ancient Dates!
The ancient date seeds that inspired us at the Getty Villa were discovered at Herod's fortress at Masada and in caves between the Judean Hills and the Dead Sea! Dates from this region were famously delicious. And stubborn — the seeds have regrown two rounds of new date palms.
Learn more about growing ancient dates
- Origins and insights into the historic Judean date palm based on genetic analysis of germinated ancient seeds and morphometric studies
- Video: 2,000-year-old seed brought back to life
Learn more about Apicius
- Apicius's date recipe and more (De re coquinaria 7.13)
- Sally Grainer's Cooking Apicius: Roman Recipes for Today