This book is a comprehensive and discerningly compiled guide to the food, wines and local bakeries, olive oil distilleries, ice cream parlours, cheeses, markets, restaurants and best kept secrets of Italy's culinary world, with lovingly drawn portraits of the people, who make her world-famous regional specialities. Fred Plotkin's passion for all things Italian means you can side step the tourist fare, track down the authentic dishes and sample the best from every ristoranti, osterie and trattorie menu. A smattering of local history makes each village, town and city come alive for the traveller, allowing them to make the most of Italy, be it just a weekend visit or a longer break. Maps allow and encourage the intrepid traveller to head off the beaten track as well as guiding them back to old haunts, and evocative black and white photographs bring to life this vastly readable guide.