Susan Weintrob, reader, foodie, and book blogger, recently contacted me after enjoying “Imperial Passions – The Porta Aurea”. She lives in Charleston and has a website, “Expand the Table”, full of both delicious recipes and wonderful book reviews. I can definitely vouch for the recipes!
She asked me for an interview and expressed an interest in the women I portrayed in the novel. I think it surprised her how many eventually reached positions of great power – an unusual occurrence in the Medieval period. It was great fun sharing with Susan some of my enthusiasm for and knowledge of Byzantine history. Being a foodie, she also noticed in the novel my mentions of the foods the people of that time ate. Of course, I had to admit that being an inveterate researcher, I had discovered a couple of books on Byzantine foods. Who knew?
I invite my readers to click on the link below to Susan’s website to check on the interview. Her recipe for Crusty Olive Pecan Loaf sounded like just the thing to enjoy with dinner on a crisp autumn evening in Byzantium. https://www.expandthetable.net/eileen-stephenson-s-imperial-passio