Appetite: A Hunger for Italy

by Elena Bertozzi

The book is about the experiences of a young writer who is interested in exploring the differences between Italian and American attitudes towards food, hunger and appetite. Why do Italians say “Buon Appetito”? Why is there no similar expression in America? The book allows the reader to travel throughout the PIemonte region of Italy, meeting cooks and sharing meals and recipes.

First published December 15, 2010

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was an enjoyable read. The premise is that the narrator of the story is a bit of a floundering writer at a cooking magazine. he goes to Italy becaus she's part Italian and visits "regular" people to see how they eat--or, more accurately, how they ate when times was tough. Through her journey, she learned about herself, gives us some recipes and learns about how she fits in her family dynamic and work relationships. nothing shocking happens (including the event that is supposedly shocking to the narrator) and your probably could tell from the start what would happen at the end--if you cared to guess.
That being said, if you like food or Italy or italian cooking you might enjoy this book. The recipes described and shared are not your standard fare. having pent a bit of time in Italy living with a host family, I can guarantee I didn't see most of these recipes--but her description of the wonder that is hazelnut gelato is accurate.