How Italian Food Conquered the World [Paperback]

Not so long ago, Italian food was regarded as a poor man's gruellittle more than pizza, macaroni with sauce, and red wines in a box. Here, John Mariani shows how the Italian immigrants to America created, through perseverance and sheer necessity, an Italian-American food culture, and how it became a global obsession. Featuring evil villains such as the Atkins diet and French chefs, this is a rollicking tale of how Italian cuisine rose to its place as the most beloved fare in the world, through the lives of the people who led the charge. Full of savory anecdotes from top chefs and resturateurs including Mario Batali, Danny Meyer, Tony Mantuan, Nigella Lawson, and many others, the book also goes inside famous restaurants such as Da Spiaggia, Piaggia, Union Square Cafe, Rao's and others.

An entertaining and fact-filled chronicle. Wall Street Journal

Informative and entertaining examination of the rise of Italian cookery Washington Post

Eating Italian will never be the same after reading John Mariani's entertaining and savory gastronomical history of the cuisine of Italy and how it won over appetites worldwide. USA Today

Informed and enlightening, loving and luscious. Kirkus Reviews

Fact-filled, entertaining history. Publisher's Weekly

A comprehensive and entertaining chronicle of Italian food, as much about colorful characters as ingredients. Everett Potter's Travel Report

Making sense of Italian food's history is no small undertaking, but like any true professional, long-time Esquire Magazine food correspondent and legendary restaurant columnist Mariani handles the subject with ease. Booklist

Mariani captures the history and elemental beauty of a cuisine that really does seem to appeal to more palates than any other... you owe it to yourself to read this book. Las Vegas Weekly

John Mariani offers a full-course menu on the history ol#=