Continental breakfast. A breakfast of coffee, fruit and croissants or pastries; definitely not including a fry-up.

American quail. A partridge found from Mexico to Canada, so named because of its call.

"Fish glue." Agar agar. A gelatine-like substance obtained from the dried swim bladder of a fish, often sturgeon.

A large DOC, mainly dry white wine area in the Alban hills in the vicinity of Rome made with Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes.

A DOC zone of Umbria where red and rosé wines are made from Sangiovese and Merlot grapes and white wines from Trebbiano.

Colli Apuani is a DOC zone of Tuscany producing white wine.

Chianti are full, fruity red wines of varying quality from Tuscany, the largest DOC area in Italy. There are seven zones of Chianti: Chianti Classico, Chianti Colli Aretini, Chianti Colli Fiorentino, Chianti Colli Senesi, Chianti Colline Pisane, Chianti Montalbano and Chianti Rufina. Wines from Chianti Classico and Rufina are particularly distinguished. Chianti Classico describes wines made in the heart of Chianti, the original wines and of fine quality. The word "vecchio" indicates that a wine has been aged for two years, while "riserva" is aged for three. Chianti is sold in distinctive bottles in which the swollen base is encased in woven raffia known as a fiasco. Chianti wines are made from Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes. Much of Chianti is produced in communes or by consortia.

A DOC zone in the Veneto where seven wines are made, each named after the grape, including Cabernet, Pinot Bianco and Tocai Rosso.

A DOC zone of Emilia-Romagna where eight wines, red and white, are made, most named after the grapes from which they are made, including Pignoletto, a sparkling white. Also Colli Bolognesi di San Pietro, Colli Bolognesi Monte San Pietro and Colli Bolognesi dei Castelli Medioevali.

A DOC zone of Umbria producing white wines from Trebbiano, Verdicchio and Malvasia grapes and red wines from Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo and Gamay.