BOOKS

Luigi Caricato, Oli d'Italia. Guida agli extra vergini regione per regione, Italy' Oils. Guide to extra-virgin oils, region by region) Mondadori; Milan, July 2001; pages. 208, € 8,26

EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, a long train of words to indicate in a complex way what on the contrary, Mother Nature always gave us in all its simplicity. An oil that is extracted directly from the fruit, in the oil mills and not from the seed, therefore in the refineries, like it happens for the rest of vegetable oils (...)

But how many of you completely know extra-virgin olive oil per se? (...)

...There it is the inspiring purpose of every chapter of this book that has been written with the intent to provide both the wide multiform consumer world and the professionals with more knowledge and confidence on extra virgin olive oil. The book in fact, describes the product in all its aspects and interpretations.       

Three sections compose the book. The first part is a reading of the past: starting from the myth and history of oil, we will go through every step that from the tree leads to the oil mill, where the product is attentively extracted. We will proceed then to an accurate oil analysis: identification techniques and methods, with the help of a specified vocabulary, in order to better understand all the possible tasting sensations. We therefore find the criteria used for the selection, the buying and the correct cooking use, including the suggestions to match several dishes, always according to different type of oils.

The author finally stresses out the importance of extra-virgin olive oil nutritional properties, and its extraordinary health values (...)

In the second part, through a peculiar journey, (...) in 100 representative tasting, we get to know and appreciate the eighteen Italian oil regions (...)

Finally, at the end of the book, the third part is for a more detailed analysis (...)

(From introduction)