arista

'Arista' means good and beautiful in Greek, and the story goes that just what the delegation from Constantinople exclaimed during the 1439 Council of Florence, when the locals served them a succulent prime roast pork loin seasoned with rosemary, and the name has stuck every since.

Although the Council failed to re-unite the Orthodox and Catholic churches, sinking Byzantium's last ditch effort to gather Western support against the Ottoman Turks, the influx of Greek scholars helped to kick start the Renaissance—and maybe the excellent roast pork did its bit, too.

Popular ways of cooking include arista alla reggiana (marinated with juniper berries, rosemary, garlic and vinegar, and then simmered in milk) and arista al latte (browned, and simmered in milk and lemon zest).