Is this the complete companion to Italian culinary culture?
Title: Eat Japan
Published: May 2021/October 2023
Pages: 224
Publisher: Lannoo (I read this book in Dutch)
Rating: 9/10
First posted in Dutch on November 27 2023 and updated on February 26 2025.
Whether it’s ordering a cappuccino after 11am, using a spoon to twirl your pasta or asking for parmesan on a fish dish, we’ll tell you exactly what not to do to avoid looking like an ignorant tourist. Brush up on restaurant etiquette, local customs and what ingredients to expect in Lonely Planet’s Eat Italy.
To help you feel prepared for the Italian food scene we’ll cover how, when and where to eat, etiquette dos and don’ts, and what classic regional specialties are a must try. You’ll find the best places to eat in every region as well as what to order when you’re there and how to eat it. If you are looking for an authentic and immersive foodie experience but don’t know where to start, Eat Italy is your answer.
- In-depth background on local food and traditions
- Practical info on popular food neighborhoods
- Helps first-time visitors get the most from their trip
Want to know more about a country’s cuisine? Lonely Planet has a food series and publisher Lannoo decided to translate it into Dutch. I love these kinds of projects. Not a travel guide full of restaurants that you have to try, and which are therefore outdated before you know it. But a guide full of tips about different types of food in a country and where you can find it. A guide that discusses regional cuisines, but also goes into the history of certain dishes and products. The food series immediately gives an idea of what you can expect from the food culture, perhaps you will discover which regional cuisine suits you best and you can adjust your travel plans accordingly. Traveling is fun, from visiting museums to other historical places, but I find the food just as important when I travel.
My favorite cuisine of all is Italian! I love bread, pizza, pasta and many other dishes from Italian cuisine. It is not surprising that I love Italian cuisine so much, because as a vegetarian who eats largely plant-based, the Italian food culture fits in very well. There is even a whole chapter dedicated to vegetarian and vegan food and how it originated in Italian cuisine. A history preceded it and without the Italians thinking about it, quite a few dishes ended up being vegetarian.
The authors were able to describe everything briefly and concisely, so that after reading this book you will understand the core of Italian cuisine. She describes Italian cuisine with enthusiasm and in a very orderly manner. Despite the fact that I already knew a lot about Italian food, I still learned quite a few new things about Italian cuisine. I do have one small point of criticism for the editors. Gelato is briefly mentioned somewhere in this book, but then there is a photo of ice cream that is not gelato. In fact, I was surprised that the author had not mentioned this in the book. Gelato does not have bright colors and NEVER rises above the ice cream tub. If you see a mountain of ice cream coming out of the tub, it is not gelato. What is it then? Whipped ice cream with a lot of air and sugar in it. The businesses that sell it are aimed at tourists and are actually a “tourist scam” without most people realizing it.
Italian cuisine is incredibly rich, from the different regions that each have their own products and therefore their own typical dishes to the concept of coffee. Of course, olive oil and cheese are also an essential part of the food culture. If you, like me, want to learn more about Italian cuisine and culture, then I can definitely recommend this guide. In addition, you can also pick up Italian here and there through the handy glossaries and example sentences in this guide.
Which cuisine is your favourite?
Love,
Leave a Reply