Food and travel are funny creatures. One of the best ways to get to know a culture is through its food, restaurants, cafes and bars. Photos may yellow, but flavors and smells can linger for a lifetime.

So it's no surprise that many ethnic cookbooks spend a lot of time talking about the countries where the food comes from. But few cookbooks delve as deeply into a country as "Adventures of an Italian Food Lover: With Recipes from 254 of My Very Best Friends" ($32.50, Clarkson Potter).Read this article in full with a
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