"In his memoir, Matthew Gavin Frank has truly captured the essence of this enticing region of Italy through his evocative descriptions of the landscape, the cuisine, the local characters, and his multifaceted experience with the Nebbiolo grape. This book transported me right back to Piemonte; wherever you are, as you read, you will start to smell the tartufo, the vineyards, the salumi, and of course the red wines of Barolo!"
-Belinda Chang, wine director at The Modern in New York City
"Aaahhh . . . ! Here are all the joys of being young and exuberant and passionate and in love with women, and life, and better yet . . . in Barolo. This remarkable and enchanting tale makes me want to set the clock back many years and to book passage to Italy and to the sips of the world's greatest wine, and to be inspired by all the things that make life such a wonderful journey! Kudos to Matthew Gavin Frank for reminding us what really makes life worth living!"
-Charlie Trotter, chef, author, and host of PBS's The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter
"If you love red wine, you'll love this book. And it's just as hard to put down this book as it is a glass of good red. This irresistible story takes you to the real Italy and its rich fragrant wine region where Barolo is made. I want to live in this book forever."
-Gale Gand, executive pastry chef and partner of Tru in Chicago and host of the Food Network's Sweet Dreams
"This is pleasure not just in the subject of Barolo, but also in Frank's writing. A master of the unexpected metaphor, Frank commands prose that is lively and original; he never resorts to cliché."—Amy Sherman, Gastronomica
— Amy Sherman
"Matthew Gavin Frank gives us a witty account of his experiences roaming the Italian countryside in search of food, wine, and life's true meaning. His vivid descriptions, historical references, and voracious appetite combine to leave the reader thirsty for the next page, and hungry for the next literary morsel. I loved reading this. Buon appetito!"
-Graham Elliot Bowles, chef and owner of Graham Elliott in Chicago
"Suddenly you are in Italy, suddenly you are in love, suddenly you are picking the delicate Nebbiolo grape under a burning sun-and in a moment Matthew Gavin Frank has captured your unwavering attention, with a firm grasp that continues for all three hundred pages of this delightful and incisive book."
-Lee Gutkind, editor of Creative Nonfiction magazine and author of Almost Human: Making Robots Think
"One swig of this book, and you're hooked."—Napaman.com
"Matthew Gavin Frank captures all the warmth and charm of Barolo, with mouthwatering stories about a journey through wine and food. A great read to fill any food and wine lover's stomach."
-Rick Tramonto, chef and owner of Tru in Chicago and the author of Tru: A Cookbook from the Legendary Chicago Restaurant
"A misfit in America, an unhappy cook in a series of second-rate restaurants, Frank seizes a chance to escape into a better world. We never learn how he first met Rafaella, or convinced her to let him pitch a tent behind Il Gioco dell'Oca, her bed-and-breakfast near Barolo. But there he is, struggling with minimal Italian, working the grape harvest with Luciano Sandrone, plunging headfirst into a world of mysterious, overwhelming sensations."—Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator
— Thomas Matthews
