It’s been a very, very long year for many, many reasons, among them a very demanding and ambitious tour to promote Tasting Rome. I really wore myself out on the road and, while I did have the time of my life, I feel like I have aged 10 years in the mere 10 months since the book was published. I’m eager to get back to my normal routine of researching and writing and that’s about to happen in a major way as I work on my next book, Untitled Southern Italy Cookbook!
A few of you noticed the announcement in Publisher’s Marketplace back in August, but it’s only recently that I have been able to turn my attention to this new project, a solo title showcasing Southern Italy’s flavors through its lost and disappearing dishes. I’ll touch on topics like mozzarella, pasta di grano duro, and tomatoes, but the recipes and stories will go beyond the obvious and dive deeply into the food cultures of Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Molise, and Puglia. Although the book is about the Italian South, I won’t be covering Sicily, choosing to focus on regions that don’t typically get the love and attention they deserve. And a major part of the book (as well as a most awesome responsibility) is to document the rich and varied food traditions that are vanishing for so many reasons.
I couldn’t be more excited to be working with Tasting Rome editor Amanda Englander and publisher Clarkson Potter again (shout out to my agent Kari Stuart at ICM) and I cannot wait to share the landscape, history, ingredients, and recipes of Italy’s deep south! The book will be published in Fall 2018 and between now and then, I will be documenting my trips to the south here and on social media (if you’re following me on Instagram, you’ve already gotten a taste).
Stay tuned as I head down to interior Campania on Friday for my last research trip of the year!
