This indispensable travel product of the month goes with The Traveling Professor on every small group tour to Paris and every small group tour to Italy.  It takes all the guesswork out of meals.

My friend, Andy Herbach, has written two books, Eating and Drinking in Paris and Eating and Drinking in Italy.  Yes, there are many books out there with restaurant recommendations, and Andy's book has them too.   However, the value of Andy's books are the extra helpful menu readers.  It has forkfulls of other great info too. 

The basic format of each book is as follows:

• Tips on dining times, tipping, and customs
• Pronunciation Guide (don't make the mistake I once made by trying to ask the Parisian waiter about a particular cut of beef - I wound up asking him if he was an amputee)
• Helpful Phrases and English Word Equivalents
• Places to Eat including Markets and Shops
• Menu Translator:  For me, this is the most helpful feature of the book.   It tells you exactly what every item on the French or Italian menu is.  For example, did you know (in Italy) that ravioli di magro is pasta stuffed with ricotta cheese?  Or that branzino is sea bass or that vincigrassi is baked lasagna?  With "Eating and Drinking in Italy" you will know all of that and more.  In Paris, did you know that a volailler is a poultry shop and that you can take away food from any place advertising "emporter"?  With "Eating and Drinking in Paris" you will know not only what to order, but where to order it.

The books are compact and easily carried around in a pocket or handbag. Of course, they come in digital format too.

To preview and order, click the photos below.