Publishers Weekly
★ 11/07/2022
TikTok star Munno, whose Italian ancestors were dried pasta makers as far back as the 1880s, shares a mix of go-to classics and family recipes in her luscious debut. Before getting to the recipes, Munno provides a brief history of pasta and lays out some helpful cooking tips (“Treat the recommended cooking time on a box of dried pasta as a guide, not law, to tell you when the pasta is al dente”), and novices will appreciate the detailed directions for making from-scratch pasta (the explanation for how to shape tortellini runs to multiple paragraphs). Classic recipes include spicy penne all’arrabbiata, and spaghetti all’amatriciana with guanciale and Pecorino Romano. Easy everyday recipes make use of leftover pasta, such as timballo di pasta (baked pasta) with salami, ham, or sausage. The American-inspired recipes—silky mac and cheese, penne with creamy salmon—offer nourishing comfort food. Those who want to put their skills to the test can try their hands at one of the recipes that encourage experimentation, such as a lemony pesto that calls for lemon, mint, and pistachios, the proportions of which can be changed based on flavor preferences and what one has on hand. Thorough and infectiously jubilant, this spirited celebration of Italy’s most famous food is a winner. Agent: Brandi Bowles, UTA. (Nov.)
From the Publisher
"[A] luscious debut...Thorough and infectiously jubilant, this spirited celebration of Italy's most famous food is a winner."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
"This “just gorgeous” cookbook is truly that, and its assortment of recipes will please a variety of readers looking for bona fide Italian food for all occasions.”—Library Journal
“When Nadia Caterina Munno, a.k.a. ‘The Pasta Queen’ on TikTok, says ‘Just gorgeous’ about a plate of pasta, you have to believe her. Munno’s love for pasta can be traced back to the 1800s, when her family started a pasta factory in Southern Italy. In her debut cookbook, she presents never-before-shared recipes as well as some familiar favorites, like her viral Pasta Al Limone, alongside tips, tricks, and Southern Italian traditions”—Thrillist
"Transport yourself to Italy via this debut cookbook by Nadia Caterina Munno, better known to her 2.5 million TikTok followers as The Pasta Queen. The book is a love letter to her homeland, full of culinary history, noodle-making tips, and, of course, Munno’s beloved pasta recipes. Expect a mix of her already-viral hits (Assassin’s Spaghetti, anyone?) and entirely new recipes inspired by different regions in Italy."—Forbes
"Nadia has a natural touch when it comes to pasta: not only because she is a pasta native, but also because her personality is joyous and eclectic. She embodies generations of Italian women who have made beautiful (and just gorgeous) meals with simple ingredients for centuries."—Giuseppe Di Martino, CEO of the Pasta Di Martino group
"Nadia has an overwhelming sense of humor, incredible creative energy, great gastronomic skills, and love for Italy. She’s a great professional and leaves nothing to chance, and for this, I admire her a lot. Thanks to her ability to marry Italian cuisine with simplicity, Nadia is, in my opinion, one of the great prides of the food world."—Peppe Guida, Michelin star chef/owner of Antica Osteria di Nonna Rosa in Naples, Italy
"If you are looking to be tempted, transfixed, entertained, and elated by the jubilance of perfect pasta, look no further. The Pasta Queen herself is holding court, and her mouthwatering book is a testament to how wonderfully wide the world can be when you are speaking the love language of pasta. Nadia’s recipes are rich with tradition and ripe with innovation, and her ability to weave fun and deliciousness and just a scrunch of sass into every bite leaps from the page (the just gorgeous photos don’t hurt!). You will be hair flipping your way to pasta prowess in no time.”—Daphne Oz, Emmy Award-winning television host and New York Times bestselling author
“This debut will delight both home cooks and Munno's fans....a cookbook that’s liberally infused with her zest for food and life.”—Shelf Awareness
Library Journal
11/01/2022
Munno brings vast inherited knowledge, and years as an Italian food blogger, to her first cookbook. There is much here to enjoy. An extensive ingredient and tool glossary is accompanied by a nice vignette of entertaining the Italian way. "Gorgeous Tips" include helpful hints for time savers, make-ahead, and flavor alternatives, and many recipes include QR codes to videos demonstrating how to make the dish. Photos are luxuriant but are as likely to be of Munno as of the food, but this is nothing new to fans of the blog and new readers likely won't mind a bit as her style is quite reminiscent of Giada De Laurentiis and Nigella Lawson. Cookbook readers will delight in turning the pages filled with plenty of family and recipe origin stories. True to the style of her blog, Munno delivers ingredient-forward recipes that encourage the use of fresh pasta, but she's not against subbing in dried pasta for quick weeknight meals. VERDICT This "just gorgeous" cookbook is truly that, and its assortment of recipes will please a variety of readers looking for bona fide Italian food for all occasions.—Sarah Tansley
