Recently I received a pre-release copy of Fred Plotkin’s latest edition of Italy For The Gourmet Traveler. This is the fifth edition that is updated for 2010. I have read major portions of this book even though I have never been to Italy. I will say this is one of the most in-depth, comprehensive and enlightening guides I have ever seen for travel through any country. I was stunned by the magnitude of information the author has placed at my fingertips. I would take this book to Italy and use it to plan my itinerary for the country. I do think it would take a year to eat my way through Italy if I did it the way this book lines it out, maybe even longer. His passion and expertise is clearly evident in this book.
This book contains more than 1,000 listings for all kinds of places to eat – restaurants, trattorias, food fairs, festivals, bakeries, coffee and wine bars, bookstores, gourmet shops, markets, vineyards, farms, wineries, olive oil producers, cooking schools and so much more. In addition there are 42 recipes, 2 from each area, that give the traveler the chance to savor their experience any time they want when they arrive back home. And even though I can not immediately head for Italy, I am going to be experimenting with a taste of Italy with several of these 42 recipes! After reading this book, the only thing that could possibly make this book better would be to have it in Kindle format. WIth that, I would be able to take it to Italy, and as I go to many of the locations reviewed in this guide, make my own notes and have a travelogue of my culinary vacation that would make other people green with envy. What a marvelous resource for the traveler! (Kyle Books – read my lips! I want this in Kindle version!)
If you are thinking of going to Italy soon, call TopDawg Travel to book your itinerary. You will receive a copy of this book to take with you when you purchase your travel to Italy through TopDawg Travel.
Read a more in depth review about this book here.
