Getting your player ready...
It’s hard to thumb through “Italy for the Gourmet Traveler” ($24.95, Kyle Books) without a big glass of barolo and a bowl of tagliatelle al ragù at hand; the food descriptions are deliciously vivid, and author Fred Plotkin clearly relishes his subject. And at more than 700 pages, chances are you will find something to eat somewhere in Italy, at one of the 800 or so trattorias, ristorantes, confetterias, cafes, gelaterias and more (he also includes cooking schools, wineries, food stores and housewares purveyors). The book is arranged by region, and each location offers hours, payment options, basic info and an appealing description.
