How long could you talk about your favorite foods? In “Deipnosophistai,” a second-century Graeco-Egyptian book, two foodies volley back and forth about their love of food. They discuss recipes for dishes such as stuffed grape leaves and cheesecake for days. The word “deipnosophist” now applies to someone skilled at any kind of conversation around the table — the type of person you want to be seated next to at a dinner party — but it comes from the Greek “deipnosophistai,” meaning “culinary experts.”