The Authentic Italian Kitchen: Pasta (English and Italian Edition)

PASTA, the English-language translation of PASTA, La Regina della Tavola, marks the first appearance in the United States of Italy's well-known Cartapaglia series of topical and regional Italian cookbooks, which have been published in Italy since 1978. These cookbooks contain authentic recipes that have been used successfully in Italian kitchens for years.

PASTA's more than 150 recipes include many classical dishes as well as some that reflect changes that have been taking place in Italian cooking over the past forty years (bow ties with radicchio and cream, for example).

The recipes in PASTA are organized by pasta shape: long, short, ribbons, and stuffed. They share three features: they are easy to prepare, they require no special kitchen equipment, and they are remarkably tasty.

Like the original Italian editions, PASTA is hand-bound in the same cardboard covers and printed on the same yellow Italian butcher paper. While English translations of the recipes have been substituted for the Italian, the whimsical illustrations, which are integrated into the Italian titles of the recipes, have been retained, giving the book its unique charm.

The book lists no authors because the recipes were gathered from all over Italy by a team of researchers working for the Italian publisher.

"Pasta' is a wonderful introduction to the world of Italian cooking. Everyone knows a little about making it... [b]ut not everyone is aware of the variety of delicious dishes one can create around pasta. This book is most valuable for the wealth of suggestions it contains, straight from the kitchens of Italy.... It is an ideal cookbook for those of us who do not have a lot of time to spend over the stove. Most of the dishes are easy to prepare, with ingredients that can be found at almost any grocery store" -- Voices, 2/28/94

"The majority of the recipes are simple with an emphasis on clean, direct flavors and fresh ingredients" -- Hartford Courant, 3/8/95