Table of Contents
Part I The Basics
Introduction 6
Garibaldi with a Fork 6
About This Book 8
Why Is Italian Food So Great? 12
Dining Out 20
Finding a Place to Eat 20
At the Restaurant 22
Special Concerns 26
Types of Eateries 32
Take-Your-Time, Sit-Down Meals 32
Fast & Casual 36
Food Tours & Cooking Classes 39
Bars 40
Food Shopping 42
Food Shops 42
// Mercato (The Market) 45
Picnic Tips 48
Part II Italian Food 101
Italian Meals & Courses 52
Breakfast (Prima Colazione) 52
Lunch (Pranzo) & Dinner (Cena) 53
Courses 56
Antipasti (Appetizers) 60
Salumi (Cold Cuts) 60
Formaggi (Cheeses) 62
Verdure (Vegetables) 64
Pane (Bread) 65
More Antipasti 66
Primi (First Courses) 68
Pasta 68
Riso (Rice) 75
Polenta 76
Minestra (Soup) 77
Secondi (Main Courses) 78
Secondi (Main Courses) 78
Contorni (Side Dishes) 83
Insalate (Salads) 83
Dolci (Desserts) 86
Frutta (Fruit) 86
Gelato 88
Other Desserts 90
Bevande (Drinks) 92
Italian Coffee Culture 92
Acqua (Water) & Soft Drinks 96
Birra (Beer) & Hard Drinks 97
Italian Wine 102
Italian Wine 101 102
Ordering & Tasting Wine 112
Wine Tourism 116
Part III Italy, Region by Region
Northern Italy 124
Piedmont & the Valle d'Aosta 124
Milan & Lombardy 140
The Italian Riviera: Liguria 154
The Dolomites: Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol 166
Venice & Veneto 178
Friuli-Venezia Giulia 192
Central Italy 202
Emilia-Romagna 202
Tuscany 216
Umbria 232
Marche 240
Rome & Lazio 248
Southern Italy 260
Naples & Campania 260
Abruzzo 274
Molise 284
Puglia 294
Basilicata 306
Calabria 316
The Islands 328
Sicily 328
Sardinia 346
Part IV The Details
100 Favorite Eateries in Italy 360
Rick's 50 Favorites 364
Fred's 50 Favorites 378
Italian Food Glossary 390
Appendix 423
Travel Smart 423
Conversions 424
Pronouncing Italian Words 426
Italian Survival Phrases 429
Index 432
Map Index 450