Following the success of ‘A Book of Mediterranean Food’, John Lehmann commissioned a second book which was to be ‘French Country Cooking’, again illustrated by John Minton and published in October 1950. Elizabeth then left England in March 1951 to spend three months in Provence. In June 1951 she travelled from Provence to Capri to visit Norman Douglas and after a whirlwind tour of the Italian Riviera returned to London. In September of that year ‘French Country Cooking’ was published and warmly received by critics. In Britain, interest in Italian cuisine was on the rise and Elizabeth and her publisher, John Lehmann, agreed that her next book should be on Italian food. With an advance of £300 pounds, she planned a visit to Italy where she also hoped to visit Norman Douglas; however, she was deeply saddened to learn of his death in February 1952. She left London in March 1952 and toured Italy, visiting restaurants, watching chefs at work and completing her research for her new book. In October 1952 she arrived back in London and rekindled a love affair with Peter Higgins whom she had met in India. This was a time of tremendous happiness for Elizabeth and gave her the confidence to continue her work. ‘Italian Food’, was published in November 1954, again to a warm reception. Evelyn Waugh named ‘Italian Food’ as ‘one of the two books that had given him the most pleasure in 1954’.