>> Pecorino cheese was ideal due to its extraordinary shelf life, black pepper was used to stimulate heat receptors, and homemade spaghetti provided the carbohy

>> Pecorino cheese was ideal due to its extraordinary shelf life, black pepper was used to stimulate heat receptors, and homemade spaghetti provided the carbohydrate intake Likely people just happened to have pasta, pepper and pecorino chesse (since they raised sheep) and they put them all together because that beats eating each one on its own. Or of course the article is right and pre-industrial sheep shepherds knew about carbohydrates and heat receptors.