Italy for the Gourmet Traveler

In the most complete gastronomic guide to Italy ever published, Fred Plotkin takes you beyond the traditional tourist experience, revealing the true richness of this nation's extraordinary cuisine and the lifestyle that surrounds it. From country markets and wineries to city restaurants and cooking schools, you will discover Italians gastronomic treasures and pleasures that no other book offers. Plotkin has selected a "classic town" in each Italian region from Sicily to the Alps that best embodies that region's cuisine and culture. Many of these special places are overlooked by uninitiated travelers, who usually flock to crowded tourist centers. In all, there are 504 cities and towns listed in this comprehensive book - a definitive source for travelers and food scholars. You will visit bakeries, coffee bars, and gourmet specialty shops and learn how products such as cheese, wine, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar are made. You will attend food fairs folkloric festivals, tour food and wine museums, and meet cooks, bakers, and ice cream makers. And you can select from more than 800 ristoranti, osteric, and trattoric that serve the real Italian dishes that tourists seldom discover. Plotkin also includes 42 outstanding recipes for gourmet dining at home. Whether you are planning your next Italian journey or are an armchair traveler, Fred Plotkin shows you how to experience la bella vita to the fullest.