reginal wines and foods

I would visit some Italian wine and food sites - and take Frank's advice. Italy is more like 20 little countries than one. You can tell you have changed regions from the breadbasket alone (Pane Toscano in Tuscany - dense and unsalted, Pugliese in Puglia, lighter and salted, a mix of rolls and focaccia in Emilia-Romagna, etc. etc.).

Same is true for most regions with wine - and that trend has been increasing as Italians are getting more into their own local grapes that were once only used in blending into other wines.

I love the whites from the Veneto - there are dozens of varietals. A couple of producers to look out for are Lis Neri and Livio Felluga. Sauvignon Blan, Pinot Grigio, refreshing, non oaky Chardonnays, blends, Tokai, etc. These are some of the top wines in Italy.

And Tuscany is way more than Chianti! There are many varietals being grown - Cabernet Sauvignon has been in the region for centuries I think. You will be missing out in Tuscany if you don't try some Super Tuscans or IGT wines made with single varietals.

In Rome fried artichokes are a local specialty. And there are some amazing goat cheese varieties to be tried. There was a NY Times article recently about trattorias in Rome - http://www.florence-journal.com/florence/2009/03/best-trattoria-in-rome.html

And this is a new Tuscan wine site I contribute to: http://www.florencewinemerchants.com/

In the U.S., you choose wine by the grape and food can be flown in from anywhere in the world....(which is why you can get fresh salmon in Philadelphia all year long even though I don't think they can be found in the Shuykill).

However, in Italy, everything is local or regional. Restaurants only serve food and wine from the area.(Exemptions are non-Italian ethnic restaurants, tourist restaurants and chains.)

Look for restaurants serving Italians and let the wait staff recommend things to you. I also usually ask for the house wine or let them recommend a local wine.

As for pizza in Naples..it was invented there.

And remember, Pasta is an appetizer in most restaurants, not a main course.

Rick Steves is not high up on my list as a "foodie." I'd look elsewhere for good food recommendations. (If you watch one of the Rome shows he goes out to eat fried cod with friends and is the first one to grab a piece bare handed. The proper way is to let the ladies take first, and everyone takes a piece with a napkin.)

Wherever I am, I always look for small, family run restaurants. I mostly get them by asking at my hotel or in local shops. Ask them where they go or they would send a close friend or relative. It's not going to be the big tourist place with the menus in English.