The Food and Wine Guide to Naples and Campania (Paperback)

by Carla Capalbo (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The sequel to the Food Lover's Guide to Tuscany, this superb guide reveals the culinary riches to be found in the Italian regions of Naples and Campania.

From the Publisher
Naples and Campania are home to one of the most vibrant, yet little-known cuisines of Italy. Now, the region's government has commissioned this sequel to Carla Capalbo's well-known Food Lover's Guide to Tuscany. The Food and Wine Guide to Naples and Campania covers restaurants, trattorias, osterias, wineries, food shops, and artisan producers of cheeses, meats, honey, gelato, and more. There are detailed entries on the many specialties of the region, recipes for local dishes, and a wealth of information for the traveler. Over 200 color photos bring to life the gastronomic riches of this region, and directions, opening times, telephone numbers, and other essential details are offered for each province. Both practical and personal, this is the most complete and informative guide of its kind. Carla Capalbo, who was born in New York, now lives in Italy and offers food tours and cooking classes. She has written several books, including The Ultimate Italian Cookbook, and is a regular correspondent for BON APPETIT.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 474 pages
• Publisher: Pallas Athene (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873429711
• ISBN-13: 978-1873429716
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,912 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Passionate and refreshing, April 12, 2006

By	Eric J. Lyman (Roma, Lazio Italy) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Any food lover planning (or daydreaming about) a trip to Naples or the surrounding area ought to buy The Food and Wine Guide to Naples and Campania with plans to place it in their carry-on right after their passport.

This easy-to-read and information-packed volume makes for a pleasurable handbook to one of Italy's most fascinating regions. The texts are simple, effective, to the point, and, most importantly, very accurately described. So far I've eaten at around a dozen restaurants recommended in the book and I found every one to be excellent and unpretentious. The information about wines is similarly on the mark -- both in terms of what to expect when visiting wine makers and also when popping the cork on the products of their labors. And the food-oriented shops the book mentions have in my experience been charming and worthwhile. I have not used writer Carla Capalbo's advice on hotels in the region, but I can't imagine it would not be excellent.

The book also makes for entertaining reading: filled with anecdotes about the regions traditions, history, tastes, and smells. The book's commitment to high-quality quality photography means that a heavy, glossy paper stock is used. That results in an unusually heavy book, but just glancing through the pages reveals photography that brings many spots to life and make carrying around an extra 500 grams (1 pound) or so worth the effort.

At the book's heart is a simple, passionate, and refreshing advocacy for the area it covers. It can be addictive.

That said, there are a couple of things I'd encourage editors to improve in future editions of the book.

First, I'd suggest staying away from specific mentions of prices when giving examples, as this sort of thing is almost always outdated before a book even hits the shelves. For the most part, Ms. Capalbo sticks to general price categories (when discussing the relative cost of restaurants or hotels), and that seems a much safer bet.

More importantly, I would have liked to see more and better maps with the locations of recommended locals marked on them. In urban areas, restaurants are often on remote side streets that can be hard to locate. And in the countryside, Campania's knack for poorly identifying rural roads can make tracking down wine producers, restaurants, or hotels a challenge -- albeit a challenge that is worth the trouble.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Resource!, August 26, 2006

By	Carrie D. Murphy (Naples, Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

We have lived in the Naples area for the past year, but found more wonderful local sources for food and wine in one weekend using this well-researched guide than we found in the whole previous year! Much of life in Southern Italy is governed by word-of-mouth, and Carla Capalbo has done the hard work for anyone interested in the wonderful array of local food, wine, and olive oil available here. Brava!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, May 11, 2006

By	M. W. Bell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I consider myself fortunate to unexpectedly pick up this book the day we left for southern Italy. At the last minute, I decided I needed guide book(s) and this caught my eye. Because of The Food and Wine Guide to Naples and Campania, we experienced far more of the excellent food and wine of the area than we would have ever done on our own. And we met wonderful, warm Campanians anxious to share their fresh and delicious food and hospitality with us. This book directed us to a wonderful agritourismo where we spent two nights and had outstanding meals, with most of the food fresh from the farm. We dined in restaurants off the beaten path, sitting with locals and savoring the experiences made possible by this exceptional guide book.
One small drawback is finding some of the locations recommended in the book. Get a good map (as the author suggested) and be prepared to ask directions. And carry an Italian language guide as you may encounter areas and situations where English may not carry you far. But don't let that deter you-follow the author's recommendations and you will be rewarded.
If you are looking a guidebook touting the usual sights and recommendations, this is not for you. If, however, you want to experience a slice of southern Italy that will leave you aching for a return trip, this is it!