Presentation of the book "Semolino, Purée, Stewed Apple – A Wisdom Journey Through Hospital Flavors" by Antonio Osea Mansi

In a ward of the Careggi Hospital in Florence, hospital food sparks a journey of inner discovery for its patients: a Dantean angel-woman recites a rosary of available dishes; roommates become bearers of arcane secrets; and a hungry patient carves his way with a fork to rediscover himself.

The book “Semolino, Purée, Stewed Apple – A Wisdom Journey Through Hospital Flavors” by Antonio Osea Mansi, published by Bookabook, recounts a real hospitalization as if it were a culinary reality show. With cinematic drone-like perspectives, end credits scrolling too fast to read, increasingly absurd opening sequences, and epic soundtracks that always conclude with an odd onomatopoeia, “SDENG!”, the story transforms each hospital meal into an opportunity for a review that reimagines a situation undoubtedly less exciting than portrayed—after all, it is still hospital food.

By connecting hidden threads, decoding secret signals in the dishes, and engaging in extraordinary flights of fancy, the author crafts an ode to culture and creativity, presenting them as tools to find flavor and gain wisdom.
During the presentation, the author will be joined by writer and journalist Jacopo Chiostri.

The author will donate his personal proceeds from the book’s sales to the Associazione Tumori Toscana in memory of Gerardo Ciliberti, a fellow patient he met during his stay, who sadly passed away.