Adventures of an Italian Food Lover: With Recipes from 254 of My Very Best Friends

It's one thing to enjoy a masterfully prepared Italian meal, but something else entirely to experience it in a small trattoria nestled in the canyons near Bologna, and author Willinger (Eating in Italy) knows the difference; conveying the sensory splendor of her 30 years living, shopping and eating in Italy, Willinger makes a warm personal guide to her favorite shops, markets and vineyards, and the often colorful characters who operate them (aided throughout by Suzanne Heller's clever watercolors). Willinger introduces grocers like Salvatore de Gennaro and Anna Maria Cuomo, who stock artisan cheeses and salumi homemade by Salvatore's dad; and winemakers like Silvia Imparato, owner of Montevetrano, ""one of the most exciting wineries in southern Italy."" Each entry is followed by a recipe: Tuscan bakers Francesco and Elisabeth Pandolfini offer Brutto-Buoni, a traditional cookie laden with almonds and pine nuts, while Dario Cecchini, Italy's most famous butcher (featured in Bill Buford's Heat), gives tips on choosing and preparing steaks. Other standouts include artisan grappa, Amedei chocolateir in Tuscany and custom perfumier Lorenzo Villoresi in Florence. Culinarians will delight in her stories and recipes, though the book functions better as a guidebook for travelers; included are web sites, hours of operation and contact information that make arranging a personal visit easy.