(Adult Travel and Food Memoir)
Love, food, wine. If that encapsulates you, then read on! Amore and Amaretti : A Tale of Love and Food in Italy is the gastro-memoir of Victoria Cosford. Cosford is an individual lucky enough to be able to write of a life spent loving Italian men, loving Italian food and loving Italian wine-not necessarily in that order.This book is a full-on assault of the senses-gastro and otherwise. From the very beginning, the long and rambling descriptions of Italian villages and villagers had me itching to buy a ticket, sell everything I owned and begin the wine life. The author’s love affair with food is the one that stands out the most strongly; so much so that I would label this book a romance. The culinary descriptions had me salivating in a deeply uncomfortable and erotic way. Often I would set the book down, race to the kitchen and try a new recipe. And they did not disappoint. The spaghetti alla Puttanesca was just one of many delicious and easy recipes to make.
This memoir is unlike others I’ve read. The author makes no apologies for such a gluttonous existence. She occasionally laments her weakness for food and men, but don’t we all? Traveling the countryside, sensually sampling all the best that Italy has to offer is a life well-lived, I say. Viva la Wine! There really isn’t a plot of any kind, just observations of life in all its winding ways. That takes the pressure off as a reader. With this book, just relax and enjoy. If I had to summarize, it is about the author’s yo-yo relationship with some Italian men who share her love of the food they create. A gastro-romance, if you will.The book’s theme? Mangia che ti passa. Eat and you will feel better. For those of us concerned about the waistline, read the book instead. It will make you feel better-richer, luxurious and saving up for that plane ticket. Italy, here I come!
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