#BTReads 'Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City'

By Robert Firpo-Cappiello
May 21, 2015
Lonely Planet - Rome, Lazio, Italy
Lonely Planet

I love cooking for my family. I especially love introducing them to dishes and flavors that I've encountered in my travels. And when I walk into my kitchen intent on dishing up something fresh and Italian, my first question is often "What would Elizabeth cook?"

Elizabeth Minchilli, a Budget Travel contributor and author of the best-selling apps Eat Rome, Eat Florence, and Eat Venice, has published an incredible memoir, Eating Rome: Living the Good Life in the Eternal City (St. Martin's Press, 2015), that absolutely breathes its subject. Having known Elizabeth for years, I fully expected the book to deliver delightful, sometimes surprising recipes and locals-only intel on restaurants. It sure does.

What I didn't expect, and what makes Eating Rome essential for Budget Travelers, is Elizabeth's insight and anecdotes about everyday life in Rome. One example that particularly struck me: If you lived in Rome, meeting your friends for coffee after dropping the kids at school would not be a once-in-a-while "me time" experience. You might very well do it every morning. Eating Rome will also show you how to order that morning coffee like a local; usher you into the world of unspoken rules and customs you need to know when shopping at markets, ordering gelato, or simply asking what's on the day's menu; and deliver recipes that let you live a little more like a Roman not only on vacation but every day.

Your turn: Tell us what you're reading now by tagging #BTReads on social media! Or let us know below in the comments.

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