Join Eric Dregni for a discussion of his book Never Trust a Thin Cook and Other Lessons from Italy's Culinary Capital on Monday, April 24 at 9:30 a.m. as part of the Seniors Learning Together (S.A.L.T.) series at the Church of the Risen Savior. Registration costs $8; please see here for details.

I simply want to live in the place with the best food in the world. This dream led Eric Dregni from Minnesota 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.

"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

"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

"Never Trust a Thin Cook is a refreshing non-ethnocentric dip into Italian culture, with essays on everything from the importance of hats in the Italian wardrobe to the exhaustive list of celebrated saints’ days." —Minnesota Daily