Cycle 16 – Item 124

Post 5,603

9 (Fri) May 2025

Papal Babyback Ribs (Not)

2.5

by me

at home

-Changgok, Sujeong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea-

with W and IZ

Inspired by the papal conclave that concluded yesterday, YouTube channel Tasting History dropped a video recreating a dish of ribs served at the conclave of 1549, as documented in “one of the world’s first celebrity chefs” Bartolomeo Scappi’s cookbook Opera di M. Bartolomeo (see Feeding the Papal Conclave).

However, I didn’t have access to the most critical ingredient mosto cotto (aka sapa/saba), grape syrup, so the ribs were simply coated in a dry rub, baked in the oven, then drizzled with A1 Steak Sauce – zero relation to the recipe in the video, yet fully inspired thereby.

(See all GLOBAL FOOD GLOSSARY)