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March 26, 2019
Deep Italy, as introduced by a columnist living in Italy.
BOOK | "Delicious Stories of Italian Town Gourmet: From the Source, Beyond the Guidebooks"
Deep Italy, as Introduced by a Columnist Living in Italy
"Delicious Stories of Italian Town Gourmet: From the Source, Beyond the Guidebooks," by Mari Oya, a columnist living in Italy, has been published. It is a collection of heartwarming columns that can only be written by someone living in Italy.
Text by YANAKA Tomomi
Columns and Information on Italian Food and Culture from a Resident's Perspective
Mari Oya is a columnist who has lived in Italy for 22 years. Initially, she couldn't speak Italian and learned the language through immersive experiences in daily life. She began writing based on her experience as an interpreter and assistant at a local cooking school, and has since published columns in NHK's "Mainichi Italian-go" and "Asahi Shimbun Digital."
In this book, through an investigative style that delves into the kitchens of ordinary Italian homes and lesser-known local shops, Oya goes beyond mere talk of food or city walks to introduce Italian cuisine and the culture behind it from a resident's point of view.

Parmigiano Reggiano, a representative cheese of the Emilia-Romagna region in northeastern Italy, is aged for at least one year, and sometimes for over three years.

The local cuisine of Siena, a UNESCO World Heritage site, features game. Delicatessens display salami made from Cinto Senese pigs, native to Siena, and wild boar.
The book also includes columns such as "Why are pasta bags blue?" and "Italians eat 12 kilograms of gelato per year," which only someone like Oya, living in Italy, could know. It also features information on delicious local foods and souvenirs found in towns that are not typically listed in guidebooks.
This book captures the charm of Italy through the delicious foods and wonderful people Mari Oya encountered on the streets. With its full-color pages and numerous photographs, it not only makes readers feel as if they are living in Italy but also offers deep insights from a resident's perspective that would be invaluable for any trip to Italy.
"Delicious Stories of Italian Town Gourmet: From the Source, Beyond the Guidebooks"
Author | Mari Oya
Release Date | December 7, 2018
Size | A5, 128 pages
Price | 1300 yen (excluding tax)