[ingas]

> Among other things, that lets you do things like regularly consume dishes that use geographically distant ingredients.

I think that you idealizing ancient Rome.

Ice was a delicacy.

"Dishes for geographically distant ingredients"?

No meat, no fruits, no milk products.

So it's only cereals could be imported from long distances.

[dTal]

Ah yes, the four food groups. /s

I think you're underestimating what could be done with preservation technology such as salting, curing, drying, pickling, fermenting etc. Meats were in fact frequently traded. Salted pork was a staple food. Cheese even more so.

And what of liquids? You're surely aware of ancient wrecks filled with amphoras? What was in them? Surely not cereals. Oils, wines, vinegars, acidic sauces such as the famed "garum" - all travel well.

[29athrowaway]

Salted or dry meat, dry fruit, cheese.