|
 |
|
Never Trust a Thin Cook and Other Lessons from Italy’s Culinary Capital Eric Dregni EVENTS: PRESS: |
|
|
The food-obsessed chronicle of an American’s three years in Italy I simply want to live in the place with the best food in the world. This dream led Eric Dregni to Italy, first to Milan and eventually to a small, fog-covered town to the north: Modena, the birthplace of balsamic vinegar, Ferrari, and Luciano Pavarotti. Never Trust a Thin Cook is a classic American abroad tale, brimming with adventures both expected and unexpected, awkward social moments, and most important, very good food. Parmesan thieves. Tortellini based on the shape of Venus’s navel. Infiltrating the secret world of the balsamic vinegar elite. Life in Modena is a long way from the Leaning Tower of Pizza (the south Minneapolis pizzeria where Eric and his girlfriend and fellow traveler Katy first met), and while some Italians are impressed that “Minnesota” sounds like “minestrone,” they are soon learning what it means to live in a country where the word “safe” doesn’t actually exist—only “less dangerous.” Thankfully, another meal is always waiting, and Dregni revels in uncorking the secrets of Italian cuisine, such as how to guzzle espresso “corrected” with grappa and learning that mold really does make a good salami great. What begins as a gastronomical quest soon becomes a revealing, authentic portrait of how Italians live and a hilarious demonstration of how American and Italian cultures differ. In Never Trust a Thin Cook, Eric Dregni dishes up the sometimes wild experiences of living abroad alongside the simple pleasures of Italian culture in perfect, complementary proportions. “An enjoyable waltz through Eric’s, oft food inspired, exploits in Modena. . . . Never Trust a Thin Cook is well worth reading. Even those with no intention of coming to live in the Living Museum, will find Dregni’s book provides an interesting and amusing insight into contemporary Italian culture and life. Great fun!” —Blog from Italy “This book is a truthful account of life in Italy and seeing and reading it through the eyes of an American as he adjusts to Italian life in enlightening.” —Italian American Girl “It’s a journey of gastronomical proportion, but it is also an exploration of cultural differences, awkward ‘lost in translation’ moments, and charming, homeless drunks who direct traffic and can speak eloquently on local history.” —City Pages “. . . Dregni’s essays easily and deftly draw the reader into the rhythm of his Italian community—a trait he shares with Frances Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun), although readers will find him rather more attuned to the quiet humor of the everyday. This witty and evocative culinary memoir will appeal to food lovers, those interested in Italy and Italian culture, and anyone who enjoys a good travel narrative.” —Library Journal “This is a splendid book for anyone who appreciates Italy and its people and to reminisce about their own experiences. It is funny, educational and enduring. Eric Dregni, the raconteur, uses his skillful writing to embrace each and every tale. I highly recommend this fabulous book, read it, you will not be sorry.” —Claude Marsilia, The Boston Post-Gazette “. . . Dregni’s essays easily and deftly draw the reader into the rhythm of his Italian community—a trait he shares with Frances Mayes (Under the Tuscan Sun), although readers will find him rather more attuned to the quiet humor of the everyday. This witty and evocative culinary memoir will appeal to food lovers, those interested in Italy and Italian culture, and anyone who enjoys a good travel narrative.” —Library Journal Eric Dregni is assistant professor of English at Concordia University in St. Paul. He is the author of several books, including Minnesota Marvels (Minnesota, 2001), Midwest Marvels (Minnesota, 2006), and In Cod We Trust: Living the Norwegian Dream (Minnesota, 2008). During the summer, he is dean of Lago del Bosco, the Italian Concordia Language Village. He lives in Minneapolis. 240 pages | 1 map | 5 3/8 x 8 1/2 | 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Parli Italiano?
|
||
