Thread by @adamsmithworks

Look, we aren’t complaining. We are TeamSmith. But we just want to mention, in passing, that this whole next section of #WealthOfNations is basically a Digression on the Digression on Silver. You only THINK it's about farming.(I.xi.j–m) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

And also, it's still about rent? (OK, we are complaining a little.) (I.xi.e–m) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

When Smith says “rude produce” he doesn’t mean vegetables that question your life choices. He means plant and animal products that don’t need much technical processing to be useful. (I.xi.j) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

There are three sorts of rude produce, and the price of each kind is affected differently by increased wealth and technology. Let’s go! (I.xi.j) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

The first sort of rude produce is wild game, fishes, etc. that nature produces in limited quantities and that we don’t seem to be able to cultivate. Like truffles and...um...woodcock? (I.xi.k.i) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

(Fun fact about woodcock—they poop when they fly, and this is relevant if you're gonna eat them. You can just roast 'em whole. Like you're Fergus Henderson @Mr_St_JOHN or something.) (I.xi.k.1) ratemyroast.wordpress.com/2006/10/11/fer… #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

Because the supply of this first sort is so limited, the price can go up pretty much without limit (assuming the society is wealthy enough). That’s why the ancient Romans could and did pay such crazy prices for rare food. (I.xi.k.1) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

How crazy, you ask? Well, a peck of wheat cost the ancient Romans ~4 sestertii. So, how do you like 6000 sestertii for one white nightingale, or 8000 for one single fish? (I.xi.k.1) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

(And the fish was only a surmullet anyway. They probably don’t even taste that great. Stupid Romans and their fancy food.) (I.xi.k.1) #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

We seem to have accidentally become a cooking show. We should probably go rest up for tomorrow. Tune in to find out why pigs are basically chickens! #WealthOfTweets #SmithTweets

We feel like @feedmedrinkme @chefjamesoakley @altonbrown @ChrisBaggot @asymmetricinfo @PaulHollywood @tylercowen @Jas_Townsend @EHAudleyEnd @historecipes and @EnglishHeritage might want to get in on this discussion of #AdamSmith and #FoodHistory. Woodcock anyone?

@chrisbaggott and @GuyFieri too. There must be a way to bring Roman surmullet to the American plate, right?