Sicilian Food and Wine: The Cognoscente's Guide

Well, as a Sicilian American I thought I knew everything about Sicilian food…. Not so! This book really dives into the historical origins of our regional food. Written by two outstanding authors who are dedicated Siculo authorities. The authors are not the “fly by night” or “ I just visited Sicily and I want to write a book” people. Both authors live in Sicily and you can feel the passion with each page. I can smell the aromas with each story. My advice is not to read on an empty stomach!

Excellent introduction to Sicilian culture and food. I wish I had read this before visiting Sicily but it makes me want to return. Insightful and easy to read. The authors do not impose their stories on the reader and do not promote any brand or product except for Sicily.

We love Sicily not least of all because of its fabulous food and wine. So great to learn more about the gastronomy and its history. A must read for visitors to Sicily or lovers or Sicily.

Not a cookbook but a reference. This brings the worlds of food and wine together. It is also a guide to olive oil and cheese. It's an excellent "supplement" to a conventional recipe book.The amount of information contained in this volume is surprising. Most books of this kind focus on either food (Mary Taylor Simeti) or wine (Bill Nesto and Frances Di Savino), but this one covers virtually every aspect of Sicilian cuisine and culinary culture. More than a cookbook, it's a handbook.Unlike much narrative about food and wine, this one lacks the personal, "memoir" element. The authors don't talk too much about themselves or their families. That makes sense given the book's purpose. Francesca Lombardo is a wine expert who leads culinary tours. Jacqueline Alio is a historian who has translated medieval recipes into English (included in her book "Sicilian Queenship"). Both are based in Sicily.The authors of at least two well-known guidebooks consulted this book for information. That makes sense.

A very well-written book with excellent background information about Sicily's natural landscape and natural and cultural history and how that has impacted the food and food culture. Then our authors get into the foods themselves, providing excellent information about ingredients and local traditions.