The Bottom Line
Italy for the Gourmet Traveler is an impressive book whose author, Fred Plotkin, is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Italian cuisine, regional specialties, and Italian traditions. In addition to describing the food and wine of each region and making restaurant recommendations, Fred includes many interesting travel tips and stories. You'll find out about local food festivals, be taken on "walks" down interesting streets with food shops and cafes, and get tips about towns to visit in each region.
I highly recommend this book for travelers to Italy, especially those interested in food.
Pros
- Excellent introduction to Italian regional cuisine
- Great recommendations for towns to visit
- Lots of good insider tips
- Passionate and knowlegable author
Cons
- Too heavy to carry around
Description
- Food and wines of each region are listed and described. Restaurants are recommended by town for each region.
- A classic town is selected for each region and is given an in-depth write-up.
- Recommendations for towns not to be missed in each region, food festivals, shops, markets, and cooking schools.
Guide Review - Italy for the Gourmet Traveler Book Review
I have a well-worn copy of the first edition of Italy for the Gourmet Traveler from 1996 that used to be one of my main sources for travel planning for past trips to Italy. When I received the new 2010 fifth edition, I thought I could quickly look through it and write my review but I had forgotten how engrossing this book actually is! It's still one of my favorite books about Italy.
Fred Plotkin shares his 35 years of Italy travel experience with readers in this comprehensive book about Italian regional cuisine. He speaks Italian, has lived and worked in Italy, and has written nine books about Italian food and opera. In his descriptions of restaurants and places, he shares stories of his visits that were special to him.
Although very similar to the first edition, there are a number of changes to the fifth edition including some different restaurants and towns. The Rome and Florence sections have many changes, new additions, and new tips for visitors.
In addition to using this book to learn about regional cuisine or find restaurant recommendations, it's a good book for travel planning, especially if you want to get away from the major tourist spots. I've used this book to find out about interesting towns to visit, shopping streets in the cities, and festivals. Fred shares travel suggestions that aren't often included in traditional guidebooks.
There's a chapter for each region of Italy that starts with a small list of "not to be missed towns". Fred designates one "classic town" for each region, the town he feels best gives the visitor a feel for the region, and takes an in-depth look at that town. For larger towns and cities he often includes a walking tour of a particular street of interest for its food shops, historic shops, or cafes. You'll also find food markets, festivals, and special events. There's much more to this book than just restaurants.
Although heavy to carry around, this is a great book for travel planning and learning about Italy's food, wine, and regions.
