Think that take-aways are a new invention? Think again. During the Middle Ages, eating ‘take-out’ was a popular way of eating in the Muslim Mediterranean. In the 14th century European travelers to Cairo speak of 10,000 cooks in the streets who sold a wide range of foods, such as grilled sausages, slices of meat, sweets, and cooked green vegetables preserved in vinegar. These cold dishes could also include meat, fowl, and fish. Some of the more popular street cooks, sold a porridge of wheat and ground meat cooked in fat. Chicken was also sold from street stalls but it was expensive in 14th-century Cairo.
Take Aways
