There is in Rome a zest, an earthiness, a vivacite that surrounds, excites and thaws the Anglo-Saxon temperament. Doris Muscatine, 1964

{HISTORY}

Doris Muscatine (1926-2006), a well-regarded food and wine writer, was at the forefront of the fresh food movement as it started to stir in the 1960s. A resident of San Francisco, and professionally trained at the Cordon Bleu in Paris, it was Doris' trips to the vineyards and markets of Europe that helped her see what a wealth of provisions she had right in her own American town. In 1963 Doris published her first book A Cook's Tour of San Francisco, where she shared the gastronomic pleasures found dining out in The City By the Bay's best restaurants along with recipes from their kitchens.

A year later, following a similar format, Doris published A Taste of Rome, highlighting the best places to eat in Rome, Italy as discovered personally following a year's residency there. Inspiration for this Italian cookbook, came from friends back home who were anxious to hear about the food, the wine, and the dining experiences that made the country so deliciously attractive.

Engaging and interesting on all fronts, Doris spends the first part of the cookbook sharing information on specific ingredients that lend the signature taste to meals in Rome as opposed to other cities throughout Italy. She then dives into discussing the best restaurants in the city - 54 in total  - and shares the recipes that made them so remarkable. With each restaurant she details fascinating fun facts, describing not only the food served there but also the atmosphere, decor and notes on the owners or staff as well. It's a lovely archive of vintage recipes from Rome that highlight the city's wonderful hospitality and culinary delights. 

Recipes run from fine dining to casual and include desserts, salads, and notes on wine along with main courses, all which showcase the wealth of diversity that radiates from this enchanting city. 

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

- 1964 book club edition

- Contains 369 pages including index

- Includes 180 recipes 

- Illustrated with black and white photographs of several of the restaurants featured as well as drawings by American illustrator and author Carolyn Cather

- Contains original dust jacket

- Interesting recipes (and the restaurants in from which they hail) include Salad of Raw Mushrooms (Battaglia), Stuffed Veal Rolls (Tre Scalini), Tortellini in Cream (Dal Bolognese), Mamma Jolanda's Fish Soup (Ristorante Corsetti), Sole in Wine Sauce (Al Monumento), Lasagne Casserole (Hostaria Dell'Orso), Eggplant Baked with Cheese and Tomato Sauce (Mario), Cannelloni Al Forno (Giovanni) and Gnocchi Verdi (Campana)

 {CONDITION}

In lovely vintage condition. This book is clean and bright throughout The dust jacket has some minor chippy areas along the top and bottom edge but is completely intact. The coverboards are clean and bright and the spine is strong with all pages intact. 

{SIZE}

Measures 9.5" inches (length) x 6.25" inches (width) x 1.25" inches (thickness) and weighs 1.10 lbs