Given that I chose to visit Italy for my honeymoon, you bet that I devoured “Giada De Laurentiis’s Recipe for Adeventure Naples!” with voracious interest. This is particularly so because I didn’t get to visit Naples during my maiden trip to Italy. And honestly speaking, I doubt I would make my way there in my lifetime, given that I’m saddled with two kids. But lest I sound too depressing, moving on.

Alfie and his sister, Emilia, got teleported to Naples as a result of a visit by their aunt, Zia Donatella. They apparently arrived in time to partake in its signature event, Festa di Pizza, which is a competition aimed at uncovering the most yummy pizza in Naples. Alfie and Emilia befriended a local boy, Marco, and got dragged into a feud. Marco’s father and his uncle were arch rivals, competing against each other to see who would win the Festa di Pizza.

Since I’m a grown man and an incorrigible traveller, the story didn’t attract my attention as much as the nuggets of information regarding the city, Napoli itself. For instance, mozzarella di bufala is cheese made from buffalo’s milk and is carefully formed into balls the size of a softball. Also, as an ardent fan of fish and chips, I really want to dig into fried-fish sandwiches wrapped in white paper, embellished with a squeeze of lemon. This kinda surprises me because I don’t consider myself a food connoisseur. (My wife is the one who is passionate about food.) In any case, the descriptions of food grabbed my attention more than the descriptions of landmarks, such as the catacombs and Mount Vesuvius.

Perhaps it is because of the fact that I visited Italy before. The food there doesn’t have many ingredients - the spaghetti just comes with tomato and nothing else - but omg, they taste devilishly exquisito.