by Jo Ann Henderson » Mon Dec 06, 2010 11:29 pm
I had an interview with an author today that was one of the best! Mark Leslie has written an absolutely delightful book, Beyond The Pasta: Recipes, Language & Life with an Italian Family. I often read the first couple chapters of a book and skim the rest to prepare for an interview. This one had me from page one, and I couldn't put it down. It is hillarious, as was my interview with Mark. It is part travelogue, part social documentary and part cookbook. It is written like a personal journal, but reads like a sitcom. Mark spent one month in a language and cooking immersion culinary vacation with a family in northern Italy. The tales of the devilish Nonna, her more reserved daughter Alessandra, and grandaughters Marianna and Francesca, and an assortment of nephews, nieces and friends kept me in stitches while trying to keep my balance on the treadmill. And, once I began talking to Mark and he began to regale me with more stories -- it was an interview to remember. Not to mention, the recounting of the meals and the shared recipes are a treasure for those who love Italian food. I've made a couple of the recipes and they definitely hold up. If you're looking for a delightful holiday read or a gift for a favorite foodie, I highly recommend Beyond the Pasta...
"...To undersalt deliberately in the name of dietary chic is to omit from the music of cookery the indispensable bass line over which all tastes and smells form their harmonies." -- Robert Farrar Capon
Cookbook, etc