Beyond the Pasta; Recipes, Language and Life with an Italian ... by Mark Donovan Leslie

I loved all the local recipes, some of which I had heard of but others were new ones. The added wow factor for me was not just that it is set in Italy but in our region of Viterbo.

It was the day-to-day shopping with Nonna, exploring the countryside and le gelaterie, where he truly developed his language skills, and a new, more joyful and uniquely Italian way of looking at the world.īeyond The Pasta is so much more than just another Italian cookery book as besides providing great recipes Mark writes a diary about his trip to Italy to learn authentic Italian cooking. Though the book contains authentic, delicious family recipes Nonna shared with Mark, Beyond the Pasta delves into food memoir subject matter not found in a typical cookbook. Besides culinary secrets and prepositions, they opened their lives to him, and made him a real part of their extensive family. Her daughter, Alessandra, taught him the language with patience and precision. His teachers were beyond his wildest dreams-he learned to cook from the grandmother, or Nonna, of the family, who prepared every meal in a bustling, busy household, as women in her family have done for generations.

He would travel to Viterbo, Italy and live with an Italian family. Armed with just enough courage, minimal Italian language skills, and a certain proficiency in the kitchen, he enrolled in a full-immersion cooking and language program. Several years ago, on a break between theatrical gigs in Alabama, Mark traveled to Italy and fell in love with the people, food and culture.

Beyond the Pasta; Recipes, Language and Life with an Italian ... by Mark Donovan Leslie