I got a magazine today, La Cucina Italiana, at my local small town supermarket. It has some recipes for desserts that look wonderful, some of them dating back to Roman times. It's worth looking for.
Thank you to everyone who responded to this question! So many great ingredient ideas, recipes, and inspiration for decorations :) I will do my best to remember to snap a photo and post to this thread.
If you google 'ancient Mediterranean recipes' you will find lots of ideas. Think of quinces, pomegranates, quince paste, grapes, breads, honey, lentils, lamb or mutton, fish, wine for menu ideas. And by all means find some anchovy sauce, AKA garum, to use as a condiment. I found some in an Italian wine shop, but it is available on Amazon as well.
Stuffed grape leaves, baklava, babaganoush (sp?), tabbouleh, taramouselata, also goat cheese wrapped in rosemary drenched in lemon juice stuck under a broiler. Yum!!
How about some ancient Roman recipes?
http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Apicius-Roman-Recipes-Today/dp/1903018447/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356891265&sr=1-1&keywords=apicius+cookbook
You say "other than Greek (salad)"...I would suggest history states that all peoples in the Med. in those days wore togas. So, you can consider Italian or mid-eastern dishes too (Turkish?).
Nothing wrong with going full toga style and have only (steak) knives at the dinner table...NO forks. Serve platters of whole roast chicken or pork or whatever and have guests carve off pieces for themselves. Have side platters of veg, chopped large so they can be stabbed. Have a platter of fresh fruit (apples, oranges, mangos, etc) that the guests have to carve themselves. Try to get metal or ceramic wine goblets instead of glass. Wine in pitchers instead of bottles.
We did this style as a staff party one time and it was a great success once everyone knew the rules - hack off your own drumstick !
Yes, their hands will get sticky, so have lots of napkins on hand, and through your kindness you can have finger bowls too.
Download some old mediterannean music to play.
1cup feta cheese
1cup chopped black or Kalimata olives
1cup chopped roasted red pepper
Artichoke bottoms
Stir together first 3 ingredients and place a couple of tablespoons of the mix into each artichoke bottom. Place under broiler until slightly browned on top.
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The author attended our food52 book party, and she is a delightful person who has compiled recipes that are indigenous to the region.
http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Apicius-Roman-Recipes-Today/dp/1903018447/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356891265&sr=1-1&keywords=apicius+cookbook
Dates stuffed with Parmesan....moussaka is an easy main course...serve with flat bread and a salad....
And lots of wine, of course.
Nothing wrong with going full toga style and have only (steak) knives at the dinner table...NO forks. Serve platters of whole roast chicken or pork or whatever and have guests carve off pieces for themselves. Have side platters of veg, chopped large so they can be stabbed. Have a platter of fresh fruit (apples, oranges, mangos, etc) that the guests have to carve themselves. Try to get metal or ceramic wine goblets instead of glass. Wine in pitchers instead of bottles.
We did this style as a staff party one time and it was a great success once everyone knew the rules - hack off your own drumstick !
Yes, their hands will get sticky, so have lots of napkins on hand, and through your kindness you can have finger bowls too.
Download some old mediterannean music to play.
1cup chopped black or Kalimata olives
1cup chopped roasted red pepper
Artichoke bottoms
Stir together first 3 ingredients and place a couple of tablespoons of the mix into each artichoke bottom. Place under broiler until slightly browned on top.
Easy and delicious.