While August 18th also commemorates the founding of the oldest known Roman Temple of Venus in 239 BC. In Latium, the region in central Italy in which Rome is located, the founding of the temple is commemorated with the feast of Vinalia Rustica on August 19. A two day feast? Crazy!
The feast originally honored Jupiter but Venus later bogarted it for herself. According to Wikipedia "Due to the intense drinking and loss of control as a result, upper-class Roman women were supervised during this festival and sometimes given lower alcoholic content beverages... [It] featured a ritual dedicated to the harvest and for the good nature of crops. For the Romans, the Vinalia celebrations were one of the three most important Roman traditional holidays. Jupiter himself was worshipped on the Ides of every month, and the two Vinalia as well. Although the Vinalia celebrations were originally aimed to worship Jupiter, in the later Roman Empire the festival incorporated Venus, as the goddess of the garden and wine."
Here's the all Latium Menu:
Alcohol optional but if you must, break out a case a case of nobilo and/or barolo and have at it.
From the Checchino 1887 Restaurant historical menu:
Insalata di zampi (salad of veal trotters, carrots, beans and celery)
Rigatoni con pajata
Bucatini alla gricia (pasta with pecorino cheese and pork jowl bacon)
Coda alla Vaccinara (Roman Oxtail Stew)
Cicoria di campo saltata in padella (sauteed greens)
Pecorino romano stagionato (Roman hard sheep's milk cheese)
Torta di ricotta
