'Dinner in Rome' is， like a carbonara， an effortless combination of ingredients that come together to make the perfect dish。 Part history， part travel guide， and part food-critic's column， it takes the reader on a stroll around Rome， around some of the most interesting and little-known aspects of history， and around one meal at a little restaurant in Campo de' Fiori。 It follows the author's musings as he is presented with his wine and his superb-sounding five-course dinner， travelling across the 'Dinner in Rome' is， like a carbonara， an effortless combination of ingredients that come together to make the perfect dish。 Part history， part travel guide， and part food-critic's column， it takes the reader on a stroll around Rome， around some of the most interesting and little-known aspects of history， and around one meal at a little restaurant in Campo de' Fiori。 It follows the author's musings as he is presented with his wine and his superb-sounding five-course dinner， travelling across the globe and from early humans to the modern Mafia， at each point showing how food has been central to society and to civilization。It is a strange idea and， one might argue， an odd way to go about presenting it。 But rather like his wine， which supposedly tastes of 'plums， pomegranate， and wild boar'， it works。 It is wide-ranging and， on the whole， surprisingly convincing in its arguments。 The idea that farming was introduced not to ensure a ready supply of food （and， of course， it didn't - it merely increased cases of malnutrition） but so that people could get hammered whenever they wanted （Viestad's words， not mine） makes absolute sense when it comes from the author's pen。 Likewise， that the Reformation took hold because of butter bans is equally as plausible。All of this comes in a package that is not only approachable， but entirely enjoyable。 It is filled with humour， as well as a deep love of his subject（s）。 There is a lovely， down-to-earth feel about the writing。 Viestad goes from quoting Cicero to Monty Python in the space of a page; he gently ribs his archaeologist wife in describing his book a work of 'culinary archaeology'， as well as his own voracious appetite。 This is a man who doesn't just love history， or Rome， or food。 This is a man who loves life， and he passes this joy in living on to the reader。 I myself love Rome， but I feel I have never appreciated it as much as when I have been reading this book， pondering about pouring myself a glass of something red and making a bowl of pasta。In fact， just like his appetite， I have been left hungry for more。 Sitting in my office， making notes from the text， I am more than a little inclined to start reading the entire book again。 The only problem I can see with 'Dinner in Rome' （aside from the sudden， expensive need to revisit Rome） is the publication date: for an ideal summer read， September is a bit past due。 。。。more