At my mother-in-law's kitchen table

Goethe once said, 'See Naples, then die.' I saw Naples, and only then really came to life.' This is how Katherine Wilson starts her book At my mother-in-law's kitchen table. Food, love and life in Naples, in which she describes her impressions about various aspects of Italy.

In 1996 Katherine traveled from Washington to Napels to do an internship at the US Consulate. Lonely, looking for compagnia, she agrees to a blind date.

Salvatore arrives 20 minutes late and drives her in his Fiat straight to his mother's kitchen. There, under the watchful eye of the whole family, Katherine learns her first Neapolitan wisdom: never start on the crust until the rest of the pizza is finished.

Katherine falls in love and went to live with the Neapolitan family in Posillipo and thus got to know the typical (South) Italian cultural and culinary habits. It is the charming, thoroughly Italian mother-in-law Raffaella who opens Katherine's heart to the wealth of Naples.

Italy through American eyes

In the book, Katherine (or Ketrin, as she is called by the Italians) talks about her personal impressions and how she views certain Italian customs with American eyes. This book gives you (literally!) a glimpse into the kitchen and the rest of the home of an Italian family.

Her mother-in-law Rafaella is a genuine, charming Neapolitan woman who always looks very well-groomed. Rafaella prepares the most delicious dishes every day, some recipes of which can also be found at the back of the book.

Katherine also tells about the Italian gestures, faith and the superstition, and daily life in Italy and Naples in particular. There are also many Italian (and Neapolitan) words and phrases that Katherine learns, so that you get completely into the Italian atmosphere.

Recognizable

It is an entertaining book, because an Italy lover would probably recognize a lot in what Katherine describes. The stories evoke memories for Italy lovers, such as the first contact with Italy and the Italian language, the temperamental character of the Italians and the sun-drenched streets: you immediately imagine yourself nel call paese.

Especially if you have lived there for a while, still live there or go on holiday often and Italy actually feels like your 'second homeland', it is all recognition. But even if you would like to know more about real Italian life, this book is definitely worth reading.

You can read via the publisher's website a fragment of At my mother-in-law's kitchen table.