Each regional section begins with illuminating and entertaining explanations of what makes Tuscan cooking so unique: location, location, location. You’ll read about a bean so beloved by a village that it’s been elevated to cult status—but that is totally unheard of a few kilometers down the road; the specialty of the Zeri Valley, a milk-fed aboriginal baby lamb that is almost unknown elsewhere in Italy; a village that departs from the Tuscan tradition of unsalted bread with its unique pagniaccio; the endless array of vegetable tarts found nowhere in Tuscany but Lunigiana and Garfagnana. With this guide in hand, you’ll not only know where to dine, but what to order when you get there.

Along the way, Elon points out significant architecture, historic sites, churches, art, museums, and points of interest in the breathtaking Tuscan landscape. The indispensible travel information is enriched by Elon’s beautiful writing and deep personal knowledge of the history, legend, and folklore of the region.

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