Interesting that they included veal brains among the odd/ancient ingredients. I didn't know they'd gone out of use. Or do they just sound really weird to the writer.
Also, when was "back then"? The last time period mentioned is the late 1800s, and while the average person may not have used a lot of spices, plenty were available for those who wanted them. I've been going through cookbooks from the late 1800s, and there are many recipes that encourage using ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, curry powder, and other tasty spices.
For what it's worth, here's an interesting ancient recipe on Mark Bittman's show "The Minimalist" that sounds pretty darn good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TALoFeZQm4Of course, without "fusion," the food had less layering and complexity, but it wasn't necessarily bland. I've had some amazingly good meals recreated from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Napoleonic Empire, American Revolution, and late 1800s recipes.