Eating and Drinking in Italy

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Summary: speck-tacular!
Review: And you can use this book to find out just what speck is. We took this guide with us on our trip to a small town in Italy, where we could not count on finding English speakers in all restaurants. The large print and generous spacing made it easy to read even in low light, and the descriptions were all spot-on. We ordered a few things we might have skipped over without knowing what was in them, and were able to avoid things that trigger allergic reactions. And since we've gotten back, it's nice to page through and remember some of the fabulous meals!

Rating:
Summary: Worth More than it Costs
Review: At This book may SEEM pricey, but it just may be the best value going for your trip to Italy. First, the compact format means that it nestles unobtrusively into an inside coat pocket. Second, the alphabetical listings make it easy to avoid costly confusion between, say, "marinara" (cooked in a tomato sauce with garlic and olives) and "marinata" (marinated in whatever). Third, the list of recommended Ristoranti is (for those that I tried) spot-on, saving the bulk and expense of, say, the Michelin "Red Guide" if you're tight on luggage space. Taken together, these factors mean that, if you're going to eat in Italy -- and, given the choice, who wouldn't? -- YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

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Summary: New updated version available!
Review: Eating & Drinking in Italy has been updated! Search amazon.com for the new Eating & Drinking in Italy. The new edition (available August 1, 2001) has the most comprehensive Italian menu reader available and lists more than 100 great restaurants in Italy.

Rating:
Summary: New updated version available!
Review: Eating & Drinking in Italy has been updated! Search amazon.com for the new Eating & Drinking in Italy. The new edition (available August 1, 2001) has the most comprehensive Italian menu reader available and lists more than 100 great restaurants in Italy.

Rating:
Summary: Not as useful as I'd hoped
Review: I recently returned from a two-week trip to Naples and Sorrento, Italy and was disappointed to find that a number of common Italian menu items were not listed. Examples were AUBERRGINES (eggplant), "ROCKET" SALAD , PARMA HAM, (just to mention a few). Based on my review of several different Italian menus, this book was of little practical use.

Rating:
Summary: Not as useful as I'd hoped
Review: I recently returned from a two-week trip to Naples and Sorrento, Italy and was disappointed to find that a number of common Italian menu items were not listed. Examples were AUBERRGINES (eggplant), "ROCKET" SALAD , PARMA HAM, (just to mention a few). Based on my review of several different Italian menus, this book was of little practical use.

Rating:
Summary: Useful and Easy to Use!
Review: I speak no more than 8-10 words of Italian. I used this book on a recent trip to Italy, and was able to understand almost every menu item I saw, and to order with confidence. It's a marvelous book! The alphabetical organization makes it really easy to use when you're sitting in a restaurant faced with three pages of Italian on a menu.

I've ordered the similar volume for Spain for an upcoming trip there, and will always look for this series for future trips, even to countries where I can speak the language.