Book excerpt: This book introduces readers to the cuisine of the author's favourite city. The cuisine of Naples has absorbed and perfected the influences of numerous Mediterranean regions. Neapolitan cuisine is known as the 'cooking of the poor' whose inventiveness with inexpensive local ingredients produced the region's famous mozzarella di bufala along with various soups, legumes, vegetables, rice and pasta. Not to mention the world renowned pizza-napoletana which has 'conquered the world more than the legions of Caesar!'