Eating is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Italy. These recommended books and moblle apps about food in Italy will help you learn what to eat and where to eat it. These are good books for foodies interested in Italian food as well as travelers planning a trip to Italy.
Italy for the Gourmet Traveler
Italy for the Gourmet Traveler is one of my favorite books about Italy and has been since the first edition came out in 1996. I've used the old book many times to plan travel, find restaurants, or read about regional food and wine. The updated fifth edition was released in May, 2010, and it's still a great book with many good recommendations for places to eat, drink, and shop for food.
Cucina Povera
Cucina Povera is a cookbook by Pamela Sheldon Johns, who lives on a certified organic farm in Tuscany where she rents rooms to visitors and runs cooking programs. In addition to recipes based on traditional peasant cuisine of Tuscany, there are great photos and interesting stories she has collected from elderly people in her region. This book is an excellent gift for anyone interested in Italian cooking, traditional cuisines, or Tuscany. Also available on Kindle.
Why Italians Love to Talk About Food
Why Italians Love to Talk About Food is another book about regional food, written by Umberto Eco's Russian translator who has lived in Italy for 20 years. The book takes the reader on a journey through Italy's regions, talking about the region's history and culture and moving on to the food of the region. The book is written in an enjoyable narrative style rather than being a reference book so it's good for armchair travel or as reading before you go to Italy.
Food Wine Rome
In this comprehensive book, David Downie tells you everything you need to know about Roman food and wine. You'll find recommendations for great places to eat, food shops, and wine bars in each of Rome's neighborhoods as well as an introduction to eating and drinking like a RomanEat Rome - Mobile App
If you have an iPad or iPhone, this is a great reference for eating in Rome. Written by Elizabeth Minchilli, a Rome food writer, this app has recommended restaurants in all parts of Rome. You'll find 150 entries for restaurants, wine and coffee bars, gelato shops, bakeries, and more in an easy to access format.
Flavors of Rome: How, What and Where to Eat in the Eternal City
In this compact book, Carol Coviello-Malzone gives a good introduction to the traditional food of Rome and how it will be different from Italian food in the US. She gives great restaurant recommendations with good descriptions throughout central Rome and even tells you how to avoid tourist traps. There's a handy food glossary at the end and it's small enough to carry with you easily. A great book for anyone planning a visit to Rome.
Tuscany for Foodies - Mobile App
If you're traveling to Tuscany and enjoy good food, check out Tuscany for Foodies, an app for your iPad or iPhone written by James Martin. The app is filled with great places to eat as well as small specialty food producers, gelato shops, wine bars, and even a truffle festival. Each entry has a map to help you find the location.
Food Wine, the Italian Riviera and Genoa
In this comprehensive book David Downie recommends great restaurants, bars, bakeries, and food shops in the Italian Riviera, Genoa, and inland Liguria. He gives a good introduction to foods and wines of the region and suggests itineraries. The book also has stunning photographs by Alison Harris. A great book if you're heading for Liguria, or even for armchair travelers interested in food.
Cafe Life Venice, a Guidebook to the Cafes and Bacari of La Serenissima
Cafe Life Venice is Joe Wolff's third Italian Cafe Life book and my favorite. In this book you'll not only find recommendatoins for 17 friendly family-run cafes, gelato shops, and bakeries but you'll also learn out about cafe life in Venice and the interesting history of these recommended cafes. With lots of great photos, it makes a good coffee table book, too.
More Cafe Life Books by Joe Wolff: Cafe Life Florence | Cafe Life Rome
