Customer Reviews

The Food Lover's Guide to the Gourmet Secrets of Rome

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I just returned from Rome having read Diane Seed's book prior to my departure. Armed with my notes for the kind of places and areas that I like, I ate exclusivley at her recommendations. They were all spot on; believe me, Diane Seed is the real deal! She knows her carciofi from her zucchini. I have lived in Italy in the past, was a former chef, speak Italian, and work in the travel world, and all I can say is for my last meal on earth I would request the Artichokes al Mattone at Evangelista for my piece of heaven on earth.

I just returned from using this book as one of my guides to rome.

A quick comment: I'm one of those folks who likes to shop the local markets while visiting. I'm less of a restaurant person.

The book was by far the best of the food guides. It led to many wonderful shops throughout Rome (the book divides Rome into several distinct areas). For example, I had three mozarellas that were very different and yet all much better than anything I've ever had in the US. I experienced several different espressos at different cafes.

The one serious drawback is that the book is a coffee table sized book. You cannot put it in your pocket and mid-day pull it out and say "what's a good market nearby?" You have to plan your day and make notes about where to visit and what to purchase. I hauled it to Rome anyway after photocopying pages created a pile of paper that seemed likely to get scattered and confused. I was glad I did.

I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM A TEN DAY STAY IN ROME AND THIS BOOK WAS AN INVALUABLE AND INSPIRATIONAL BOOK/GUIDE WHILE THERE IN THE ETERNAL CITY. I AM A FOOD PROFESSIONAL (ARTISAN BAKER), SO MY FOCUS WAS REALLY ABOUT FOOD, AND HOW IT IS SO INTEGRAL TO ITALIAN CULTURE. HER STORIES OF EACH NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE DETAILS OF THE INDIVIDUAL MARKETS, SPECIALTY FOOD STORES, BAKERIES AND RESTAURANTS WAS FABULOUS AND REALLY INFORMED WITH A PALETTE!

WHILE THE MYRIAD RECIPES ARE SCALED DOWN AND SIMPLIFIED, THE AUTHOR IS A WELL-KNOWN ITALIAN COOKING TEACHER IN ROME, SHE HERSELF IS RECOMMENDED IN OTHER GUIDE BOOKS AS AN INSTRUCTOR WITH COURSES TO TAKE AS A TRAVEL EXPERIENCE.

I PARTICULARLY LIKE HER INDIVIDUAL VOICE WITH REGARDS TO HISTORY AND HER INDIVIDUAL ROMAN EXPERIENCES. IT IS A BOOK TO STUDY AND TAKE NOTES FROM AND EVEN TRAVEL WITH AND READ WHILE THERE--NOT A BOOK TO WALK THE CITY WITH THOUGH DUE TO ITS SIZE.

I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO HER FOR THE INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE OF A CITY SHE THOROUGHLY LOVES--THIS LOVE IS INFECTIOUS!

We are in Italy and France every year, letting flats/houses for 1 to 2 weeks at a time so we have the independence to move about a city/area, cook from the local markets and explore out of the way restaurants otherwise unknown to us. We were in Rome for two weeks (in a penthouse 1/2 block from Campo dei Fiori), and used this wonderful book as our constant resource. It is organized by region of the city, making it very easy to locate the establishments which interested us. Every review in the book for places we frequented was accurate. It makes "foreigners" feel like natives. We're soon headed for France, ending with another week in Paris (the Marais) and will soon buy the publishers tome of similar name for that wonderful city. I only hope there are more books (cities) on the same theme in the pipeline from the publisher.

Purchased just before our first visit to Rome, and the collection of pictures, recipes, and suggestions on eating and dining while in Rome was worth the purchase

Very nice coffee table book and good guide to the wonderful cuisine of Rome. Gorgeous pictures