For information on products and Italian cooking, we recommend the following:

Every Night Italian (Scribner, 2000) by Giuliano Hazan. For authentic Italian meals made from ingredients in your supermarket. Recipes are simple and quick.

Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking (Knopf, 1992) by Marcella Hazan. A classic for authentic fare by the doyenne of Italian cuisine.

The Splendid Table: Recipes from Emilia-Romagna, the Heartland of Northern Italian Food (William Morrow, 1992) by Lynne Rossetto Kasper. Through anecdotes and talks with peasants, farmers, and townspeople, Kasper makes you feel as if you're part of the family. Authentic, doable recipes for regional home cooking.

Italy For the Gourmet Traveler (Little, Brown, 1996) by Fred Plotkin. From Umbria to Apulia, this in-depth guide takes you on a backroads tour of the markets, restaurants, and shops.

Esperya: Italian Food Experience online. This Web site has an incredible selection of specialty products, from aged balsamic vinegar to Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Zingerman's. This highly regarded Michigan specialty-food store offers a small but notable selection of choice oils, vinegars, and cheeses from around the world, all hand-picked favorites of its staff. It's another of the few places from which you can mail-order Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.