There is no food writer we would rather talk to about Italy—and, really, talk to about food in general—than Katie Parla. Her mind, her spirit, and her willingness to drive around the wonderfully off-the-grid cow towns of Puglia for the sake of a book project—it’s all really special. In this episode, we talk about her decades-long obsession with Italian food and culture, and what has gone into her latest book, Food of the Italian Islands. We also discuss her TV work and her tours of Rome that have become legendary around the world. It’s so good catching up with Katie Parla, and we hope you enjoy this conversation.

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MORE FROM KATIE PARLA:

• Italian Culinary Guides [official]

• Skip the Flight and the Ferry With ‘Food of the Italian Islands’ [NYT]

• Drinking With Italian Food and Wine Expert Katie Parla [PUNCH]

Buy: Tasting Rome and Food of the Italian South