The historical past of catering and fine cooking trades goes back in the Fourth millennium BC. Everything started out in China however the tradition of grand eating and drinking was already crucial through the flourishing years in old Egypt. Nevertheless, the catering industry only surfaced from the commonly practiced hospitality, which was always free, when the very first real hostels and inns were built in ancient Greece.
Catering in Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire
The advancement in ancient Greece continued in the Roman Empire. To start with, the accommodations for Roman soldiers were found along the military roads and trading routes, that were eventually opened to all travelers.
Throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, the initial signs of the rebirth of the catering trade were seen in monasteries which covered mainly the requirements of the numerous Christian pilgrims going to Rome.
Caravan series served exactly the same purpose in the Orient and started there around 600 AD. During Charlemagne’s time, the catering trade developed and extended throughout the entire Europe because transportation and trade required safe accommodation.
Catering in the Middle Ages
The catering trade had been significantly influenced by the church in the later part of the Middle Ages. Furthermore, the newly established bourgeoisies, the flourishing trade, the natural economy being replaced with money, as well as the intensification of transportation all contributed to the popularity of catering industry.
Catering in the 14th and 15th Century
The catering industry was widely spread in Germany from 14th to 15th century which got the interest of legislators. The very first “beer inspection” licenses were paid by the Augsburg Elector in 1530.
It was also in the very same year that the “Reformation gutter Polizey” law was introduced and this replaced numerous regional polices. After the legislation was enacted, several regulations for hostels and inns were written which led to the regulation of the serving of drinks, beer mugs sizes, and the quality and purity of beer, even volume and kind of dishes were brought up in the “Zehrordnung” regulation.
As time went by, guild hostels and houses developed. The term “Seefahrts- und Schifferhäuser” was 1st observed in the seaside towns during the Hanse era. As another area of expertise, post guesthouses and rathskeller restaurants surfaced, and until now, they are able to still be found as establishments referred to as “Gasthof zur Post” or “Ratskeller”.
The Rise of the Catering Industry
The development of transportation, technical innovative developments, population increase, and sudden rise in the trade of travel and tourism gave gastronomy a fast shift making it a critical element for national economy.
