The Pasta Queen

Starred review from October 1, 2024
This aspirational Italian cookbook will transport not only readers' minds with its gorgeous spreads of food-laden table gatherings but their taste buds via its simple, flavorful recipes. It's hard to believe that there could be room for yet another Italian cookbook on bookshelves, but this one proves itself, taking inspiration from the author's Roman heritage. While Munno's candy apple red nails draw the eye to glistening Negronis and forkfuls of spaghetti, it's her recipes that speak to the simplicity of Italian cooking at its best--where throwing together wholesome ingredients results in a flavor-packed, vibrant meal. Zucchini crostini might just be bread with toppings, but a pop of fresh mint and a spoonful of stracciatella make them mouthwatering. For pasta lovers, homemade Sardinian gnocchetti paired with fresh tuna ragu make for a toothsome bite. From pasta to seafood, meatballs in a Roman wine sauce to roast chicken with mushrooms and a light egg, cheese, and mint frittata, this collection reminds home cooks that it really is that easy to create a satisfying Italian meal from only a few ingredients.

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November 18, 2024
Bestseller Munno (The Pasta Queen) dives into family-focused Mediterranean cuisine in this exuberant and inspirational volume. The recipes are drawn from multiple regions and organized by course. For Aperitivi, a peach bellini and inventive lemon-basil cocktail get the party started. In the Antipasti section, Munno instructs home cooks on how to construct a vibrant snack board of olives, salami, gorgonzola, and focaccia. First-course plates (Primi) include Milanese risotto, seafood linguine, and potato gnocchi, alongside a guide to making fresh pasta. The section on Secondi features lemon-sauced chicken scallopine and stuffed peppers. Vegetables star in the Contorni course, which features sautéed broccoli rabe and artichokes alla Romana, and for dessert (Dolci), there’s “melt in your mouth” lemon ricotta cake. A brief final chapter on Italian street food consists mainly of paninis and feels oddly out of place, but Munno infuses every recipe with a sense of fun through personal anecdotes and the mantra “food is love.” She encourages home cooks to view these recipes as “but a canvas” for one’s “culinary artistry,” inviting personalization while still offering enough guidance to help novices feel comfortable. This is a must for anyone looking to put together an authentic Italian meal.