My interests are similar to yours. Are you still looking? I too have searched for such a group. I did look in Egypt and found one, like you said. It's called "Food for Thought", Food through the Centuries, at this url http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Group/395707 .

There is also one in the Orient called "The Healing Arts Through the Ages", The Mortar and Pestle, at this url
http://www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Group/325394.

So two topics, two groups. They both sound great. My problem is picking one since I'm not a patron. If you join one, please write and tell me how goes it?