Never Trust a Thin Cook and Other Lessons from Italy’s Culinary Capital

Eric Dregni is assistant professor of English at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and dean of the Italian Concordia Language Village, Lago del Bosco. He is the author of several books, including In Cod We Trust: Living the Norwegian Dream, Minnesota Marvels: Roadside Attractions in the Land of Lakes, and Midwest Marvels: Roadside Attractions across Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and Wisconsin, all published by the University of Minnesota Press.

I simply want to live in the place with the best food in the world. This dream led Eric Dregni to Italy, first to Milan and eventually to a small, fog-covered town to the north: Modena, the birthplace of balsamic vinegar, Ferrari, and Luciano Pavarotti. Never Trust a Thin Cook is a classic American abroad tale, brimming with adventures both expected and unexpected, awkward social moments, and most important, very good food.

PrefaceVicolo ForniPermesso di SoggiornoA Page Boy in Pavarotti's RestaurantSleeping with NunsIl CappuccinoLord Arnold and the KnightTerror and Courtesy at the Esselunga SupermercatoFoiling the Cheese ThievesMold Makes a Good Salami Great"The Poor Meatball!"Rats in the Canals, Peacocks in the PiazzaThe Bicycle ThiefTreachery and Treason amid the Subcommittee of Vespa PaintNorman the ConquerorEat Your Hat, CowboyA Night at the OperaFour, Five, Sex . . .Lessons from GuidoArrangiati!A Risky SubjectCasino or Casinò?Commie Pigs?Never Trust a Thin CookAngry NoodlesWalking over DeathSuper Pig TrotterReggio's Blockheads and Bologna's BaloneyThe Secret World of the Balsamic Vinegar ElitePet PigsBuon Natale!Sunny ItalyThe Hot Springs of IschiaNaples at New Year'sSan Geminiano and the Festival of FogSoccer SeasonTruffles and CotecchinoPorn and PuritansLa TivùPolitics, Italian StyleThe Art of EatingEating Venus's NavelBack to High SchoolLa FerrariTouch Your Balls for Luck!Why Would You Ever Leave?Parli Italiano?Acknowledgments