Comedian Matteo Lane has loads of followers to his stand-up engagements on YouTube. (That’s how I discovered him.) But Lane is very serious about his cooking. I could not resist his recipes or his snarky attitude, which we get not only from the title, but also from Lane’s description of the cookbook as a guide to “how to cook pasta like an Italian, Irish, Mexican homosexual.” (Lane’s no slacker; he’s fluent in Italian, Spanish and French, and he’s not bad in German, either.)

Those who know Lane won’t be surprised at how funny this cookbook is, nor will they be surprised at how delicious his recipes for pasta (the cookbook contains nearly exclusively pasta dishes). Lane’s pretty particular about his recipes, so he blasts substituting bacon for pancetta or guanciale, cooking with pasta that’s not bronze cut, using shredded mozzarella from the grocery store and buying Parmesan not made in Italy, much less “the sawdust in the green cans at the grocery store.” See why I adore Matteo? I couldn’t believe the difference bronze-cut pasta makes! I now follow most of Lane’s advice. Not that I’m giving up on using the much cheaper bacon instead of pricy pancetta. (Matteo, I hope you can forgive me, although you probably can’t.) I loved it!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review.

A good cookbook that you can tell was written by a comedian. This is no dig, these are great recipes and the food is the center point of the book, but the writing is also very entertaining. I don't typically read any part of a cookbook besides the recipes but I found myself laughing along to the antics of a Matteo's family.

This is a must read if you love Matteo Lane. This “cookbook” is so fun. I have tried a few recipes so far and they’ve been a hit.

Absolutely perfect. As an Italian American from New Jersey, I approve of everything here, from the recipes to the tips to the humor. This is super accessible and considering the primary goal seems to be to get people to realize how simple it is to make good food, Your Pasta Sucks is a complete success.

This was such a fun read. Not only was it fun, it was funny! I was already loving it from the cover and the beautiful and colorful photography early on.

I see myself utilizing this book for specific recipes I want to try mainly because of the way the recipe instructions are written. It’s more of a story format and less of an easily followed step-by-step outline. Although I appreciate the tidbits of knowledge you learn from this format like why certain steps are needed etc. For that reason I’m not sure if this would be my go to place for certain recipes that I might be able to find a similar version online. However, I definitely learned about of lot of new dishes and some that remind me of my family recipes I’d like to make.

Loved learning about the history and quirks of each recipe. I felt like this book gave a lot more than your typical cookbook. I am a bit familiar with Matteo’s online presence and it was great to learn more about him.

I love that this was a book not just about Italian food but about Italian culture, Italian-American culture, and food culture in Italy in general. The rules section pages were great. Very entertaining and informative especially for traveling to immerse in and embrace the culture.

Favorite quote: “Authenticity isn’t about how they do it in Italy versus America. Instead, it’s like this: Unless your grandma made the dish, then it’s wrong wrong wrong” so good!

Love Matteo Lane's comedy and this book was a fun, quick read. So wish he'd do a show in my neck of the woods!! If you like food and laughing, you'll be entertained!!

I've followed Matteo Lane for a while, mostly because a lot of his content is strikingly relatable (Irish and Sicilian descent, grew up on a lot of pasta and potatoes, 2/3 of siblings gay, etc.), so I was very excited at the announcement of his self-proclaimed "cookbook" with hilarious title. When the first chapter boldly states " How to Cook Pasta like an Italian, Irish, Mexican Homosexual" I knew I was in for a treat. I loved the inclusion of How to Ruin Pasta, because so many books focus on what you should be looking for and not what you should be avoiding. Maybe that's my learning style, but I find that more helpful than a big list of just what to do.

Is it weird to feel a little relieved, like I passed a test, when my own Pasta Pantry and recipes lined up with his? I'm lucky to have an Italian Specialties Shop and Deli near me, so I'll have an easy time stocking up on his other suggestions, but he also keeps it general enough that anyone can pick this up, hit your local store, and have a decent pasta pantry to make better pasta. The book is informative, it's familial and historical context of both famous and controversial dishes, but most importantly, it's fun!

"I think Italian women and witches shop at the same stores" is my favorite quotes and I need it somewhere in my kitchen ASAP. It's beautifully designed, which matters to me when I'm going to be flipping through a book on my counter. I received the book as an ARC, but I need this fun, witty commentary on my shelf for all time. I will be buying a physical copy as soon as it is out.

This book is like being in Matteo's kitchen with him. We get some of his family history. Chapter 1 contains family recipes. None of them are difficult. And you may already have all the ingredients in your house already.

The the following chapters are regional. Like recipes from Rome, Sicily and the South, and some recipes from the author's "Found Family.

The book is filled with gorgeous photos and all the recipes are easy. His recipes read like he's in the kitchen standing next to you, instructing you on how to make this recipe. It's a great book, containing a lot of recipes that you already want to try.

This cookbook is amazing! The introduction is hilarious & I love the back stories before each recipe. I’m more of a boxed noodle & can barely cook those type of gal but reading this makes me want to make ALL the recipes!
I need to get my hands on a physical copy, that way I can be like aunt Cindy or Kate & show up with yummy food (that my husband makes 🫣😉) to all the family dinners!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me a chance to ARC read this amazing cook book!

So much fun and funny and I guess learning a thing or two about cooking didn’t hurt either. I highly recommend. Thanks NetGallery!

This was a great intro cookbook for making simple but good pasta. I love how Goode covers just about every form of pasta and recipe you could really want and the recipes were easy to follow.

Despite saying himself that he has no business writing a cookbook, I felt like this one was really fun. It was part cookbook, part family story, and part comedy. I really like Matteo’s stand up and crowd work, and felt like his voice came through very clearly. I particularly enjoyed the bits about his family, as well as the photographs included. It didn’t necessarily give me new recipes but there were some tips I’ll integrate.

Thank you Chronicle Books and Netgalley for this ARC copy of this cookbook.

I have seen Matteo out and about on social media, and I never fail to laugh at his stand-up videos... please watch the Oprah's Horcruxes video and that alone will convince you to buy this cookbook. That being said, I knew I needed to snag this arc while I could, and it did not disappoint. Not only is it packed with tips and tricks for pasta making--please listen to this book and don't break your pasta to boil it--and delicious recipes, but it also has a sprinkling of comedic relief, so if you get frustrated with a recipe just flip through the cookbook and you'll be laughing through your tears.

Definitely suggest this book whether you have experience cooking or not!

Read if you love:
🍝 Pasta
🎙️ Comedy shows
🥘 Cookbooks
📚 Learning How to Cook

I’ll be honest, youtube isn’t something I watch on my own - my older teens and husband love it, andI appreciate it from that aspect in that people share their talent / creativity / knowledge and share that with viewers. Whether to learn something, to laugh, etc., but I watch it if someone in my family puts it on and I’m sitting by the television. That was my first introduction-ish to Matteo Lane.

When I first saw this cookbook cover and read the author’s name, I checked to make sure it was the same Matteo Lane and upon realizing it was, I decided to read an early copy with my family.

As a New Jersey-shore Italian, I was interested from a family and food standpoint, as a mom and wife, I was also interested because it was written by someone that they all very much like and appreciate. And having read this, I can now say that I like the author as well 🙂

The cookbook is very visually appealing - the layout, and the photos - gorgeous. The stories introducing chapters and recipes are laugh out loud funny - even if you’re not familiar or a fan. The recipes are enticing and the photos accompanying the recipes will likely easily be tempting enough to try your hand at a few or more (I’m not a great cook, my baking yields far better results, but none of the recipes seemed overly difficult, imho). You may also finish reading this book with an intensely strong desire to visit and eat your way though Italy.


Recommended for fans and (non-vegan) pasta lovers alike.



Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the PDF

I first fell in love with Matteo through his comedy online. One day I saw a video he made of his Italian cooking, and he did such a nice job explaining the recipe I felt I could do it just from the video. I only watched it once, and he gave me the confidence to make this. I made it for my husband and I, and we LOVED it. Do yourself a favor and buy this book just for the Cacio e Pepe recipe. That would make this worth it alone. This whole cookbook is just as amazing, and I cannot wait to make every recipe. If you like Italian food and comedy this book is absolutely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy!

And now I want pasta…
I saw author Matteo’s infamous Alfredo video on social media months (or maybe a year) ago and have enjoyed much of his content since. Matteo is funny. He’s irreverent and isn’t afraid to say the “weird thing” which always makes me laugh. So when I saw that he now had a cook book, I immediately grabbed it to explore. At the ripe old age of 42, I’ve started learning how to actually cook after growing up in a household where black pepper is considered “spicy.”

Thankfully my tastebuds have matured past my mother’s fondness for all things bland, but that had left me lacking in imagination and skill to really cook well. Over the past year, I’ve attained some comfort in the kitchen, and while I am no longer a novice I would never claim expertise. This book is perfect for my skill level. The recipes are authentic and relatively simple with explanation from the nuances of pasta types to basic Italian cooking skills all wrapped up with stories that are completely worth reading. So many cook books add prose to their recipes that fall flat and aren’t worth reading. Matteo, on the other-hand, relates the recipes to peeks into his childhood, historical or anecdotal stories, tales from his trips to Italy, and so much more all written with his unique humor and whit. The pictures feature a stunning cooked dishes or humorous glimpses of real life. His book inspired not only my hunger but also a desire to try some of these. I can’t wait to figure out where I can get fresh pasta and real parmigiano-reggiano. I feel like as an American, we’ve been cheated out of having really good pasta, but I can’t wait to try out some of these recipes.

FANTASTIC!!
"How to Cook Pasta like an Italian, Irish, Mexican Homosexual"
The writing is humorous and relatable, the photos gorgeous, and the recipes look delicious (I haven't tried to make them YET but definitely will). I highly recommend this book.

I love how much personality this cookbook has! I’ve enjoyed Matteo Lane for many years now, so I was super excited to see he made a cookbook. Some recipes are super easy, some are more complex, but many look good. I’m going to try the cacio e Pepe, the tiramasu, and pistachio pesto. Fantastic book if you love pasta or are a beginner cook.

There is nothing i love more than carbohydrates, reading, and laughing. This cookbook is a home chef’s delight! If you need me I will be cooking every recipe in this book, sopping up all the sauce with a fat chunk of bread!!!!

Yummmmmmm!!!!

Thanks Netgalley and Chronicle Books for allowing me to read this early. Now tell me who I need to olive oil up to get a physical copy!!!!

This book is everything. I was not expecting it to be as funny as it was and I was just as interested in reading the stories and background of the dishes and I was in reading the recipes. Usually with cookbooks, there are recipes that I would not even want to try, but every recipe is appealing and true to the Italian culture. A+