Italians love to talk about food. The aroma of a simmering ragú , the bouquet of a local wine, the remembrance of a past meal: Italians discuss these details as naturally as we talk about politics or sports, and often with the same flared tempers. In Why Italians Love to Talk About Food , Elena Kostioukovitch explores the phenomenon that first struck her as a newcomer to Italy: the Italian “culinary code,” or way of talking about food. Along the way, she captures the fierce local pride that gives Italian cuisine its remarkable diversity. To come to know Italian food is to discover the differences of taste, language, and attitude that separate a Sicilian from a Piedmontese or a Venetian from a Sardinian. Try tasting Piedmontese bagna cauda , then a Lombard cassoela , then lamb ala Romana : each is part of a unique culinary tradition.

In this learned, charming, and entertaining narrative, Kostioukovitch takes us on a journey through one of the world’s richest and most adored food cultures. Organized according to region and colorfully designed with illustrations, maps, menus, and glossaries, Why Italians Love to Talk About Food will allow any reader to become as versed in the ways of Italian cooking as the most seasoned of chefs. Food lovers, history buffs, and gourmands alike will savor this exceptional celebration of Italy’s culinary gifts.

艾琳娜·库丝蒂奥科维奇（Elena Kostioukovitch），散文家和翻译家，1958年出生于乌克兰基辅，1988年移居意大利米兰，现为米兰大学教授和文学经纪人。她1988年把埃科《玫瑰的名字》译为俄文而名声大噪。她获得很多奖项，2004年获得格林扎纳卡佛莫斯科翻译文学奖，2006年获得俄罗斯国家餐馆协会欢迎奖，2007年获得意大利库希纳奖和奇亚瓦利文学奖。