A Taste of Tuscany

We went to Tuscany to eat well and drink wine. As vegetarians, we tend to plan for the "what to eat" angle thoughtfully before traveling. DK books are my favorites for travel because I like the mix of images and just enough text to get the information you really need. This book was no different than my usual satisfied experiences with DK travel books. While I may tear out relevant sections from other books to travel lighter, DK books always go with us intact, even if they're heavier due to the hard cover and better quality paper stock. It's worth it. This book was an unfailing guide for us while spending about 10 days in Tuscany, traveling throughout the region. It gave us new ideas for foods to seek, and background and cultural explanations are always appreciated. We visited during springtime, and we will take this book again while visiting Tuscany in the fall. Different foods, different flavors.

Other volumes may tell you where to eat, but this book covers the foodstuffs and beverages as well. We used this book extensively on a 26 day trip through Tuscany. It filled in all the blanks. DK does it again!

This guide divides Tuscany into six main areas. Each geographical area is based on the local produce and gastronomic traditions. It seems that if you are visiting Tuscany, one of the main reasons is going to be fore the cuisine. There is a focus on meats, cheese, olives and wine. Areas Covered: Florence, Arezzo, Casentina, Lunigiana, Garfagnana, Versilia, Pisa, Livorno, Chianti, Siena, Montalcino, Sienese Crete, Maremma and Monte Amiata. There is a detailed description of the best times to visit, with a special section on the foods grown in various areas. I would suggest that this is more about food than anything else. There is a "Travelers' Needs" section which tells you where you can sleep before waking the next day to continue your journey into the land of food. So, if you want to find the best wines, olive oils, cured meats and cheeses, this might be the book you are looking for. ~The Rebecca Review