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Amore & Amaretti: A Tale Of Love and Food In Italy
"L’appetito vien mangiando!" or "Appetite comes while you are eating." Vicky arrives in Tuscany to study the language and culture of Italy, but soon falls in love with charismatic chef Gianfranco and starts to learn the art of Italian cooking in his trattoria. On Sunday nights, after benches are stacked on tables, they explore the countryside by car, passing glassy lakes and ancient hill towns. This colorful and intoxicating gastro-memoir takes you behind the scenes of romantic restaurants and bars in Tuscany, Umbria, Elba, and Perugia. Interspersed with recipes, humor, and heartbreak, it will leave you entranced and with a hankering for tagliatelle and truffles.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 25, 2011
I'm not a big reader of memoirs or non-fiction, but I rather enjoyed this one. Victoria Cosford is an Australian food writer, and this is her story of how and why she fell in love with Italy and Italian food. She's curiously uncharismatic, but I enjoyed her story of a major detour from her Ita;ian gastronomic education having fallen in love with the wonderful Gianfranco, throughj a number of repeat visits to Italy and her former life. Vivid feasts for every foodie, and rather a good story of life and a number of loves. Weird how the recipes appear throughout the narrative and break it up, but I'll forgive her, and there were a few I'd like to try.
July 15, 2013
One hopes that a food memoir about living and eating in Australia and Italy would leave one moved and salivating. Sadly, in this case, those hopes go unfulfilled. This is a poorer, more 'woe is me because I'm an ungraceful, introverted, undisciplined Australian woman who is prone to weight gain' version of Eat, Pray, Love without the drive that made that text slightly palatable. The food descriptions are rudimentary, the recipes all vary in structure and reading about the writer and her partner's emotional incompetence makes the exercise of reading, and thinking about cooking rather unpalatable at best.
November 22, 2016
What a disappointment. I had looked forward to reading about Italy and food, but I found a rather dismal travel guide/diary featuring characters who were not in the least appealing or attractive and locations which were often (apart from the odd spark) arid and uninspiring. I found the writing a confused mix of styles and sometimes it sounded as though it was written by someone for whom English was not their first language. Maybe she was getting too absorbed in the Italian to write fluent English? Unusually, I felt no empathy with the author (it's autobiographical) in her haphazard lurch through life, her empty promiscuity, her lack of any deep self-awareness, her self-pitying, and her continuous unexplained decisions to repeat her mistakes. I wanted to shout at her "don't do that!" and "why don't you ever learn?" I found it all very sad. The men she had increasingly desperate and self-debasing affairs with were unappealing: one with bad teeth, greasy hair and violent mood swings (why on earth would she keep subjecting herself to this?) and another barely a schoolboy. It almost seemed like a psychological reflection of self-loathing which was very uncomfortable to read. I understand that she is a food journalist and a lecturer in cookery. I have not read any of her food articles but this does not inspire me to do so, and I wonder what her students make of it all. Unwanted exposure ...
October 20, 2024
Enjoyed this story from Victoria after I attended one of her amazing Italian cooking classes. It’s a candid and truthful reflection of her stays in Italy. I loved the food descriptions and references to methods as well as the colourful characters she introduced.
The book is full of tried, true and tasted recipes Vic picked up during her travels. Thanks for sharing your travels with us Vic.
The book is full of tried, true and tasted recipes Vic picked up during her travels. Thanks for sharing your travels with us Vic.
August 31, 2021
Couldn't finish it. I didn't manage any connection to the characters, and the spoilers provided early on made me not care much about finding out what happened.
March 6, 2022
I usually persevere, but I didn't even make it through part 1... this book just didn't engage me
July 27, 2011
Love, food, wine. If that encapsulates you, then read on! Amore and Amaretti : A Tale of Love and Food in Italy is the gastro-memoir of Victoria Cosford. Cosford is an individual lucky enough to be able to write of a life spent loving Italian men, loving Italian food and loving Italian wine-not necessarily in that order.
This book is a full-on assault of the senses-gastro and otherwise. From the very beginning, the long and rambling descriptions of Italian villages and villagers had me itching to buy a ticket, sell everything I owned and begin the wine life. The author’s love affair with food is the one that stands out the most strongly; so much so that I would label this book a romance. The culinary descriptions had me salivating in a deeply uncomfortable and erotic way. Often I would set the book down, race to the kitchen and try a new recipe. And they did not disappoint. The spaghetti alla Puttanesca was just one of many delicious and easy recipes to make.
This memoir is unlike others I’ve read. The author makes no apologies for such a gluttonous existence. She occasionally laments her weakness for food and men, but don’t we all? Traveling the countryside, sensually sampling all the best that Italy has to offer is a life well-lived, I say. Viva la Wine! There really isn’t a plot of any kind, just observations of life in all its winding ways. That takes the pressure off as a reader. With this book, just relax and enjoy. If I had to summarize, it is about the author’s yo-yo relationship with some Italian men who share her love of the food they create. A gastro-romance, if you will.
The book’s theme? Mangia che ti passa. Eat and you will feel better. For those of us concerned about the waistline, read the book instead. It will make you feel better-richer, luxurious and saving up for that plane ticket. Italy, here I come!
This book is a full-on assault of the senses-gastro and otherwise. From the very beginning, the long and rambling descriptions of Italian villages and villagers had me itching to buy a ticket, sell everything I owned and begin the wine life. The author’s love affair with food is the one that stands out the most strongly; so much so that I would label this book a romance. The culinary descriptions had me salivating in a deeply uncomfortable and erotic way. Often I would set the book down, race to the kitchen and try a new recipe. And they did not disappoint. The spaghetti alla Puttanesca was just one of many delicious and easy recipes to make.
This memoir is unlike others I’ve read. The author makes no apologies for such a gluttonous existence. She occasionally laments her weakness for food and men, but don’t we all? Traveling the countryside, sensually sampling all the best that Italy has to offer is a life well-lived, I say. Viva la Wine! There really isn’t a plot of any kind, just observations of life in all its winding ways. That takes the pressure off as a reader. With this book, just relax and enjoy. If I had to summarize, it is about the author’s yo-yo relationship with some Italian men who share her love of the food they create. A gastro-romance, if you will.
The book’s theme? Mangia che ti passa. Eat and you will feel better. For those of us concerned about the waistline, read the book instead. It will make you feel better-richer, luxurious and saving up for that plane ticket. Italy, here I come!
April 25, 2011
Engrossing and transporting
Food, romance and Italy are center stage in Victoria Cosford’s memoir Amore and Amaretti. Though she comes to Italy to study its language and culture at the Michelangelo Institute, Vicky quickly abandons her classwork when she meets the charming, volatile Gianfranco, a chef who teaches her the arts of Italian living, loving and cooking. When he is working she hangs out in the cool stone rooms of his restaurant; when he is free they travel the back roads of Italy to see tiny shops in sunny alleys and ancient villages set by the sea or atop grassy hills. Within six months they are living together and Vicky is running the kitchen of his restaurant, but though Gianfranco brings her more joy than she ever thought possible, her great love brings her great pain too, which means this memoir is not just a light-hearted frolic of travel and delicious meals.
Gianfranco and Italy become centers of her life that she keeps circling back to, feeling not completely whole in either Italy or her native Australia, where she works in advertising and journalism. After her initial four year visit in her twenties, by the age of fifty Vicky has returned to Italy more three times, usually brought back by a call from the irresistible Gianfranco who wants her to work in whatever restaurant venture he is involved in at the time. In trying to find the right balance of life, work, love and joy, she eats too much food and makes some cringe-worthy decisions about men, then vows again to live the better, fuller life she imagines for herself.
Packed with aromatic descriptions of Italian sights and mouthwatering food, this is a great book for armchair travel and cooking inspiration. Twenty enticing Italian recipes are layered throughout the text.
Food, romance and Italy are center stage in Victoria Cosford’s memoir Amore and Amaretti. Though she comes to Italy to study its language and culture at the Michelangelo Institute, Vicky quickly abandons her classwork when she meets the charming, volatile Gianfranco, a chef who teaches her the arts of Italian living, loving and cooking. When he is working she hangs out in the cool stone rooms of his restaurant; when he is free they travel the back roads of Italy to see tiny shops in sunny alleys and ancient villages set by the sea or atop grassy hills. Within six months they are living together and Vicky is running the kitchen of his restaurant, but though Gianfranco brings her more joy than she ever thought possible, her great love brings her great pain too, which means this memoir is not just a light-hearted frolic of travel and delicious meals.
Gianfranco and Italy become centers of her life that she keeps circling back to, feeling not completely whole in either Italy or her native Australia, where she works in advertising and journalism. After her initial four year visit in her twenties, by the age of fifty Vicky has returned to Italy more three times, usually brought back by a call from the irresistible Gianfranco who wants her to work in whatever restaurant venture he is involved in at the time. In trying to find the right balance of life, work, love and joy, she eats too much food and makes some cringe-worthy decisions about men, then vows again to live the better, fuller life she imagines for herself.
Packed with aromatic descriptions of Italian sights and mouthwatering food, this is a great book for armchair travel and cooking inspiration. Twenty enticing Italian recipes are layered throughout the text.
September 10, 2011
Amore and Amaretti by Victoria Cosford is subtitled “A tale of love and food in Italy,” and that it is, but it’s also so much more. Cosford’s writing is sharp and refined but also lyrical — a true pleasure to read — and her story is captivating.
The Aussie author traces her experiences with Italy and Italians over a 20-year period beginning with her first flirtations as a young student in Florence in the early 1980s. Something as well as some people grab a hold of her so tightly from that point on she is under the spell of the bel paese even while living back in Australia where every now and again she is “swallowed into the seriousness of the sound” of the Italian language just by hearing a few passing words of “that musical poetry.”
As a young girl, Cosford quickly finds her way into Italian culture through both its food and amore via Gianfranco, a charming chef who not only introduces her to the gorgeous Tuscan countryside and intricacies of small town life but also to the restaurant world when he invites her into his kitchen. The theme of food features heavily, so foodies will especially enjoy both the lush descriptions in Cosford’s prose as well as the delectable recipes that appear throughout.
Cosford doesn’t hold back in the recounting of her life’s adventures, either; difficult subjects and (in hindsight) foolish decisions don’t escape mention just for the sake of making this book into a fairy tale. Although it’s beautifully written, there’s no doubting that Cosford struggled with finding her physical and emotional place in this world, and that Italy played a huge role in that for better and, at times, for worse.
For anyone who enjoys memoirs, particularly with an Italian and/or food theme, this book is a must-read.
The Aussie author traces her experiences with Italy and Italians over a 20-year period beginning with her first flirtations as a young student in Florence in the early 1980s. Something as well as some people grab a hold of her so tightly from that point on she is under the spell of the bel paese even while living back in Australia where every now and again she is “swallowed into the seriousness of the sound” of the Italian language just by hearing a few passing words of “that musical poetry.”
As a young girl, Cosford quickly finds her way into Italian culture through both its food and amore via Gianfranco, a charming chef who not only introduces her to the gorgeous Tuscan countryside and intricacies of small town life but also to the restaurant world when he invites her into his kitchen. The theme of food features heavily, so foodies will especially enjoy both the lush descriptions in Cosford’s prose as well as the delectable recipes that appear throughout.
Cosford doesn’t hold back in the recounting of her life’s adventures, either; difficult subjects and (in hindsight) foolish decisions don’t escape mention just for the sake of making this book into a fairy tale. Although it’s beautifully written, there’s no doubting that Cosford struggled with finding her physical and emotional place in this world, and that Italy played a huge role in that for better and, at times, for worse.
For anyone who enjoys memoirs, particularly with an Italian and/or food theme, this book is a must-read.
April 1, 2011
Victoria Cosford is an Australian food writer who also teaches Italian cookery classes. Amore and Amaretti is a memoir of her time spent in Tuscany. As someone who loves food and has enjoyed visiting Florence, I thought this would be right up my street...
The cover screams chick-lit at me which is rather misleading. Whilst the book starts of with a Florentine romance, I feel you'd be disappointed if that's what you're wanting. The relationship comes across as slightly impersonal and a little cheesy at times, in part due to Victoria's use of words like “effulgent” to describe her love interest. If ever a word should be retired from the English language, I think that should be top of the list. Bear in mind that it is a foodie memoir and not fiction and you'll start with the right expectations. If you can get past the author's descriptions of her on/off boyfriend, Gianfranco, you'll get to the good stuff, the descriptions of food. If you don't enjoy reading about food and don't want to know about a stranger's love life, there's not much left to recommend this book.
If you've visited Florence or the Tuscan countryside, this book may bring back some fond memories or it could be a nice read before you visit to introduce you to the local cuisine and atmosphere.
There are recipes dotted around the book too, standard Tuscan cuisine including one for that fantastic rabbit sauce they tend serve with pappardelle. Confusingly, they often appear in the middle of passages when they'd be better placed at the start or end of each section.
I think the book improves nearer the end when the rose tinted glasses come off.
The cover screams chick-lit at me which is rather misleading. Whilst the book starts of with a Florentine romance, I feel you'd be disappointed if that's what you're wanting. The relationship comes across as slightly impersonal and a little cheesy at times, in part due to Victoria's use of words like “effulgent” to describe her love interest. If ever a word should be retired from the English language, I think that should be top of the list. Bear in mind that it is a foodie memoir and not fiction and you'll start with the right expectations. If you can get past the author's descriptions of her on/off boyfriend, Gianfranco, you'll get to the good stuff, the descriptions of food. If you don't enjoy reading about food and don't want to know about a stranger's love life, there's not much left to recommend this book.
If you've visited Florence or the Tuscan countryside, this book may bring back some fond memories or it could be a nice read before you visit to introduce you to the local cuisine and atmosphere.
There are recipes dotted around the book too, standard Tuscan cuisine including one for that fantastic rabbit sauce they tend serve with pappardelle. Confusingly, they often appear in the middle of passages when they'd be better placed at the start or end of each section.
I think the book improves nearer the end when the rose tinted glasses come off.
April 24, 2012
The title and the cover suggested a more fluffy, chicklit like title than it is. Amaretti are Italian macaroons, sweet little nothings to nibble on. To me however there is an equal measure of bitterness to the sweetness in the book. It's more Amore and Amaro. We are offered a journey into the inside life of restaurant workers through the Australian author's various stints in Italy's restaurants over her lifetime. Yes, there is a lot of beautiful food, great recipes, yes there are love affairs as well. There is beautiful Italy and memorable characters. But to me it is a book about Victoria's blues. It feels as if she suffers from depression and cannot quite climb out of it. Victoria's repeated travels to Italy, the country she got tied to from the first time she went there as a student, seem to be an attempt to reach out, to connect with purpose, with people, with life. The people Victoria meets also struggle and are also imperfect. There is an underlying suffering and inability to cut through it, and this is what makes the story very poignant. This is such a different book in tone that previously read by me As the Romans Do. As I immerse myself in books on Italy this one makes me more aware that all the different offerings by various authors are in the end their very personal experience, the portrayals of their inner state and how it relates to the country they are in. I meet different Italy each time I read a new book. When I go there it will be yet another Italy I will see, filtered through my own mind and my own senses. In the meantime I am having a great time enjoying my various vicarious experiences.
August 4, 2015
I read the Australian edition with a different cover which was not appealing - all dark and dim. Never mind that. I quite liked this tale spanning 20 years or so. I would've liked a bit more explanation about her life in Australia and how she managed to go and live in Italy at various times over the 20 years for months at a time. I wondered why her life seemed to be going nowhere and why she kept repeating the same mistakes with unsuitable men and job choices that led nowhere. This is one of those memoirs where the writer downplays their skills and accomplishments. Not sure why they do it. It is very readable nevertheless.
December 15, 2015
I really like foodie novels, especially when they're tied in to another time period or country....
I had "saved" this novel to really dig into what I was assuming would be delectable descriptions of the Italian life and food.
Instead, I felt like I was reading a weird newsletter from a cousin who is trying to convince people how cool she is. How she can drift from job to job and man to man... But instead of thinking how urbane her life is, it just seemed shallow. The descriptions were detailed yet oddly devoid of emotion.
Even the recipes (which were randomly inserted throughout the book) couldn't save this one.
I had "saved" this novel to really dig into what I was assuming would be delectable descriptions of the Italian life and food.
Instead, I felt like I was reading a weird newsletter from a cousin who is trying to convince people how cool she is. How she can drift from job to job and man to man... But instead of thinking how urbane her life is, it just seemed shallow. The descriptions were detailed yet oddly devoid of emotion.
Even the recipes (which were randomly inserted throughout the book) couldn't save this one.
March 29, 2016
A line kept entering my head while reading this book that my father used while I was growing up, "Don't advertise the dumb things you do." The "love" part of this book didn't interest me, particularly when a pattern was developing that was pretty desperate. I read those parts with one eye open, preparing myself for the next train wreck. I don't know why the author felt the need to share such private moments and poor choices. Maybe writing this book was cleansing for her. I wanted to smack her upside the head. I was after the food and Italy part and those were okay.
On page 96 she did describe the making of gnocci very well.
On page 96 she did describe the making of gnocci very well.
June 12, 2011
I really enjoyed being taken back to the hill towns of Italy. Florence especially struck a note. Loved going to Montalcino where we spend a week a couple years ago. And, the food, oh the food, was delightful. A big yum for this one.
May 27, 2013
Sensuous descriptions of food. Cosford's delight and excitement about fresh and authentic Italian cuisine is clear but tainted by her own self-loathing. Shame about the latter because as a food writer she is witty and evocative.
July 27, 2011
I enjoyed this book. A great insight into Italian life. Also looks at the years of an addiction to Italy and it's culture. Looking forward to trying some of the recipes too.
July 30, 2011
A very insecure person withnothing to write about except food and total lack of morals.
November 25, 2012
Well, I just couldn't wait to finish this book. A read to put you to sleep. Sorry foodies, it just didn't work for me.
February 14, 2016
A great mixture of story, recipes and travelogue.
April 2, 2016
It was interesting to follow Vicky's adventures over the years she spent in Italy, the lifestyle & the people she met along the way.
April 8, 2017
because I have lived in Italy and I have been so many times to places and shops she is mentioned in the book, because I have met the author personally as we live in the same town , I have to say I enjoyed the book, but I have other authors who really describe the Italy the way I love it...still very enjoyable book if you are into food and travel and some occasionally lonely and occasionally so deep in love woman stories.
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