Eating and Drinking in Italy: Reading Menus in Italian

by Andy Herbach and Michael Dillon

More than a dictionary--this pocket-size book contains a brief commentary on travel in Italy; dining specialties and customs found in all regions of the country. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 088496437X
• ISBN13: 9780884964377
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Capra Press
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 4.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

speck-tacular!

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!

Worth More than it Costs

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!

Useful and Easy to Use!

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.

Inexpensive menu reader and restaurant guide

This menu reader is easy to use. Unlike other menu readers which are divided into categories (fish, soup, salad), this one is easy-to-use and alphabetically organized. The illustrations and comments are very clever and helpful.

Restaurants that serve REAL Italian food

I used this guide in Italy to find restaurants that serve authentic Italian food. All the restaurants (from expensive to budget) served regional specialties, not food aimed at the tourist. The menu reader is so easy to use. Unlike other menu readers which are divided into categories (fish, soup, salad), this one is alphabetically organized. The illustrations in the margin are very clever and funny.