Culinaria Italia from H. F. Ullman by Gunter Beer

Italy's culture is a favorite of specialty publisher H. F. Ullman.  They have wonderful, fully illustrated, affordable books on Italian cooking and Italian art history.  Culinaria Italia is their Italian culture and food edition.  I have a copy of the book, and it is a resource I return to over and over again for advice on meals, wines, travel, and just for dreaming.

The first line of the book:

Whether a gastronomic tour of Italy, an elegant meal at the home of an Italian acquaintance, or "cooking Italian" back in one's own kitchen, the prospect is mouth-watering.

While I provide the links to purchase the book, I really recommend you get to a store and look at the book before you order it, even if it is just to believe that is really is such a wonderful book for such a wonderful price!

Tip:  This book makes a lovely gift for Italophiles!

The best thing about all the H.F. Ullman books, and the reason they are so affordable, is that they make translations of all their books into many languages, and then print large quantities, bringing the cost down to a minimum, making their beautiful books affordable.

They also use every outlet possible to sell their books, bringing them to the widest possible audience.  So check your local bookstores, both online and offline, for copies in your native tongue.

From the Publisher's book description:

Food and culture are inexorably tied together. The Culinaria series reports on every aspect of a country’s cuisine within the context of the people who created it. One of the most successful series in cook book history, these new editions are updated with the guidance of first-class chefs, and come in a durable flexi-cover format to withstand abuse while spending time in the kitchen.

The teams behind each Culinaria volume spend months in the region they are working on, allowing them time to fully absorb all of the food and drink a country can offer. Profusely illustrated with spectacular photography and abundantly peppered with authentic recipes, these volumes are a treat for both the mind and the palate.

Features:

Learn about the history behind the dishes, their cultural significance, and how to prepare them

Beautiful photographs take you on a tour from the local villages to inside the kitchen where you will find the final product

Enormous variety of magnificent photographs and tempting recipes together with knowledgeable text that is easy for readers and cooks of all skill levels to understand.

460 pages.

Here is a very small selection of H. F. Ullman's amazing Italian art books at Amazon.com.  Click through to look inside the books.

Please visit my review on this site of free e-books of Italian Medieval and Renaissance cookbooks.

This review is by Candida Martinelli, of Candida Martinelli's Italophile Site, and the author of the cozy-murder-mystery novel AN EXTRA VIRGIN PRESSING MURDER, and the young-adult/adult mystery novel series THE VIOLET STRANGE MYSTERIES the first book of which is VIOLET'S PROBLEM.