Frances Mayes “See You in the Piazza”: Book Review, Recipe and Giveaway

What’s not to love about a book that takes you on a trip? This is not another novel by Frances Mayes, but rather a travelogue of her trips around Italy. See You in The Piazza is her travel diary of her private explorations with Ed and some with their grandson.

They take you with them, their choices of hotels, restaurants but more than that, they list why they are there. What they came to see. They do their homework.

Mostly for me, I travel to eat. I adore regional specialites, local breads and cheeses, I adore meeting the people that make them. Often I am not a good tourist and don’t even stop to see museums.

This book reminded me of all that Italy has to offer and how much deeper a trip can be if you do your research. Not only does Frances share some of the recipes she gathered on her trip, but also lists items she is getting for gifts for herself and friends. Keep a notebook handy while readying this as you will want to remember what do get where as well as the culinary specialties they enjoyed in each place.

I was sent a copy of the ebook to review by the publisher. I took my time reading it slowly. I didn’t want the trips to all run together. Like trying to see to much while traveling and getting Stendhals syndrome, I have the same problem while reading. You really need to let things sink in to think about them.

After I finished reading the book, I asked a few questions and the publisher sent me the notes they send to people that start a book club based around the book. I think this is really a good way to appreciate the book.

Click here to see the notes and also two recipes she posted from the book.

I chose to make the caponata as I adore Sicily and this was a different version from the ones I have learned to make.

There are as many recipes for Caponata as there are mamma’s. This recipe is from Giovanni Galesi, the chef at Nosco cooking school at the Hotel Antico Convento.

There are regional differences and also seasonal differences. It is not really eggplant season, but I did find some in the store. I didn’t find the red bell pepper so used yellow instead.

When you don’t have eggplant, often they substitute pumpkin or artichokes, so I felt safe in doing so.

There were a couple of changes I made to the recipe below. I think they meant 2 or 3 tablespoons of capers. 2 or 3 is not enough.

I like my caponata to be really agro dolce, so I suggest tasting and adjusting your sweet and sour to taste, also the salt. Often all a dish is really missing is salt. I thought that it needed a little boost with the tomato sauce, but having not actually seen or tasted it at the restaurant, I can only immagine. One of the main differences in caponata from east to west is the tomato sauce. I added a little tomato paste, called stratto in sicily, which gives a little glaze as well.

I think the book creates a sort of treasure hunt in Italy, she covers many regions which are not perhaps on the top of everyone’s list. Once you live here and have more time to spend. With a little research, there are so many places to visit and just not enough time.

This recipe came from one of the treasures found while reading the book. A converted convent which is a hotel with a restaurant AND a cooking school? Ragusa Ibla is one of my favorite places to go now I have a reason to return.

Go beyond Florence, Venice and Rome. Give yourself the gift of travel and time to enjoy and explore.

Spend time in the Piazza as well! I think people watching is one of the best things to do. Stop and have a break in the local square. That is where it is all happening.

Would love to know where you go to explore in Italy beyond the classic towns.

Are you addicted as well?

I recently did a blog post on Tuscany, it is so much more than just Florence, Siena,Lucca and Pisa. I could spend a lifetime just exploring here as well.

Thank you Frances for once again sharing your passion and love for Italy.

GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the publisher, I am doing a giveaway of one copy of “See You in the Piazza”.

Barbara Ostmann is the winner!

If you don’t win, you can order a print copy or kindle using my Amazon associates link.