Beyond the Pasta
Recipes, Language & Life with an Italian Family
by Mark Leslie
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Pub Date Dec 30 2013 | Archive Date Jun 30 2016
Description
[NEW for 2014 ~ 10 BONUS recipes, including gluten-free dishes, are included in this newly updated Kindle edition. Same heartfelt, award-winning story; now with ten more reasons to bring your family to the table!]
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. 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.
He would travel south of Tuscany to Viterbo, Italy and live with an Italian family. 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. Her daughter, Alessandra, taught him the language with patience and precision. Besides culinary secrets and prepositions, they opened their lives to him, and made him a real part of their extensive family.
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. 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.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
His book has amazing recipes, wrapped in his story of his adventures in Italy. It's a very cool presentation of recipes within a story that helps each recipe tell a story. It reaffirmed my own wishes and dreams.
--ericriveracooks.com
A fine brew of recipes, b&w photos, and colorful, anecdotal narrative. Keep this one in mind for Christmas gifts to travelers, epicures, and stay-at-homes who like to read about other people's adventures. --Julia Oliver, Alabama Writers' Forum
The kind of meals that you really find in Italian homes, prepared by someone's Nonna. What touched me most were the emotions in this book. Accessible recipes and a great story teller are a pretty unbeatable combination. --Fruttodellapassione.net
For those of us desk-side who long to learn about cultures and food ... I'm particularly fond of Beyond the Pasta: the journal-style writing is delightful and recipes basic and exceptional. --Anthony Dias Blue, "Blue Lifestyle Minute"
"Mark has captured the essence of the Italian people." -Biba Caggiano, TV chef, cookbook author, and Sacramento restaurateur.
"Alabama and Italy--what a delightful and delicious combination." -Fannie Flagg, Best-selling author and actress.
"Mark understands and so beautifully conveys the transcendent nature of true cooking, cooking that comes from the heart and feeds not just the body but the soul. There is something universal about this that goes beyond culture, age, race, and gender--real food, real cooking, real sharing is something sacred and often under appreciated. His writing is smart, sensitive and wittily observed. Beyond the Pasta exemplifies how the act of cooking is intrinsically an act of sharing and affirmation, and has the potential to be an open expression of the heart." --Scott Peacock, chef and co-author with Edna Lewis of "The Gift of Southern Cooking: Recipes and Revelations from Two Great American Cooks."
Marketing Plan
Mark has made countless radio and television appearances, including The Today Show and Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family":
http://www.beyondthepasta.com/pressmedia/video/
Mark has made countless radio and television appearances, including The Today Show and Hallmark Channel's "Home & Family":
http://www.beyondthepasta.com/pressmedia/video/
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780982102381 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Nerisa Eugenia W, Reviewer
Post Updated to Feature Cookbook
"Beyond the Pasta" was gifted to me by publishing company Gemelli Press LLC., written by fellow blogger, chef, traveler and author Mark Leslie. When I first received this cookbook I didn’t know what to expect, this is definitely not your average cookbook, it’s a book about family, travel, culture and food; weaved together like a love letter.
Beyond the Pasta is definitely a one way ticket to Italy... with the author as your personal tour guide. The author immediately transports you to the culinary world and culture of Italy as he pays homage with recipes that captures the very essence of Italy and family, leaving you in love with love…Love of family, love of culture, love of travel and definitely love of food.
This is a book that you will most definitely want to curl up in bed with before you introduce it to your kitchen. However I must warn you, you will get the urge to jump out of bed and head to the kitchen and whip out your sauté pans as the recipes reveal themselves like an unexpected Christmas gift.
The first recipe in this book and the first recipe I tried from this book was “Frittata con Zucchine e Cipolla (Zucchini and Onion Frittata)”, since zucchini was one of the things that I absolutely love to eat this was a no brainer… I had to try it… and I was not disappointed. Another recipe that I also tried and absolutely loved was “Pasticcio di Zucchine (Zucchini Casserole with Thyme and Mint)”
Beyond the Pasta not only transports you to Italy, but you will fall in love with Italy, and it was definitely love at first sight. Sharing my personal growth one page at a time… from our first date as me being just a simple tourist... to me becoming an Italian immersed in the language...culture... and food; ultimately bringing about the perfect marriage of love of food, culture, family and history, resulting in a harmonious family.
This book was definitely my perfect slice of Italy….now the only thing that’s missing from this book…well... is me.. in Italy…oh mamma mia, disastro! I need a plane ticket to Italy now! Beyond the Pasta will leave you wanting more and more, and I highly recommend this book.
NEW for 2014 ~ 10 BONUS recipes, including gluten-free dishes, are included in this newly updated Kindle edition. Same heartfelt, award-winning story; now with ten more reasons to bring your family to the table!
Toni Marie W, Librarian
An warm and enlightening journey through Viterbo, Italy with humor, heartwarming moments and a wonderful Italian family. I simply loved reading this journal styled book with recipes from Mark Leslie. For 28 days you travel alongside Mark and follow his daily excursions through this ancient city in the Lazio region. Ever present is "nonna", the many trips to the market and Mark's events of his day as they unfolded followed by a single recipe.
The recipes, while there are few, are wonderful and include Meatballs, Potato Pea & Pasta Soup, Veal Tips with Polenta, Penne w/Cream & Mushrooms, Sivilian Rice Balls, Fried Dough Pockets, Cheese & Jam Tarts, Yogurt Cake and of course, Biscotti. His stories left you wanting more recipes but not necessarily missing them. I will tell you they are authentic in size as most are 6-8 servings and sometimes more but that's how those of us who are Italian prepare our meals.
This book focused on his life, his journey, his love for Italy and simply ended with food as it does in any Italian household and we're simply companions enjoying his travels.
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