What does 'ab ovo usque ad mala' signify in Roman culture?

The phrase 'ab ovo usque ad mala' translates to 'from the egg to the apples' in Latin and is a figurative expression that means the entirety of an event or situation, particularly a meal, from beginning to end. In Roman culture, meals typically began with appetizers (often referred to as 'gustatio'), progressed to the main course ('prima mensa'), and concluded with desserts or fruits ('secunda mensa'). The imagery of starting from eggs, which may symbolize the beginning or first course, and ending with apples, often seen as part of the dessert or final course, encapsulates the concept of a complete dining experience. This phrase illustrates the comprehensive nature of a Roman banquet, indicating that it encompasses all stages of the meal, rather than focusing on just one segment such as appetizers, the main course, or dessert. The other options do not capture this totality of the dining experience that the phrase effectively conveys.