Armchair Traveler The right book, movie or song opens a window to today’s .

➺ WATCH I Am Love Italians have been buzzing about this movie—now out on DVD—since its premiere at the 2009 Venice Film Festival, thanks to its gorgeous Italian sets and tantalizing food. Luca Guadagnino directs Tilda Swinton, playing a woman who has an affair with a young chef. Close-ups of his dishes—such as prawns with ratatouille—will make your mouth water.

➺ READ Marcus of Umbria: What an Italian Dog Taught an American Girl About Love ($24, amazon.com) After young New York editor Justine van Italian Wine Merchants der Leun meets a (108 E. 16th St., 212-473-2323) handsome gardener in Italy, she This wine store sells Italian vintages in all price ditches the city to spend a year ranges; there’s a great $25-and-under section. in his sheep-farming village, I just walk in and ask owner Sergio Esposito for living in a crowded house with his a midpriced dry red—whatever he’s into at the charmingly eccentric family. Turns moment. I haven’t been steered wrong yet! out the Italian she really falls for is a starving English pointer she nurses to health. The author’s vivid descriptions of the daily rituals of an Italian farm will leave you Rach’s feeling like you’ve spent a week NYC among the Umbrian olive trees. ➺ LISTEN “” Faves by (feat. Mary J. Blige) BuonItalia (75 Ninth Ave., 212-633-9090) In the past 10 years, This is the best-kept secret in the city. Bins heartthrob Tiziano Ferro has become filled with nuts, grains and goodies run an international star, through the center of the store. I use it like a with recordings in Spanish and English as well as Italian. Ferro supermarket and buy all my staples there— topped charts in Italy with a redo pasta, olives, anchovies and deli meats. of Mary J. Blige’s “Each Tear.” He hasn’t mastered the English You can pack yourself a picnic and eat it language—adverbs seem a upstairs on the High Line (thehighline.org), particular challenge—but that an old freight-train overpass that’s been doesn’t much matter to his fans. BUONITALIA

converted into an elevated green space. ITALIAN WINE MERCHANTS, BORENSTEIN; MAYA FERRO, GETTY IMAGES.

160 DAY WITH RACHAEL RAY rachaelraymag.com

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