Loving and Learning with Pasta

Travel memoirs were all the rage a few years ago, and it’s a shame that the genre is no longer getting the attention it deserves. For those of us desk-side who long to learn about cultures and food, there is no better way. I’m particularly fond of Beyond the Pasta: Recipes, Language & Life with an Italian Family, a book from author and traveler Mark Leslie. From Alabama, Leslie quickly grew enamored of Viterbo in Tuscany after a short trip in 2001. He returned in 2005 to the arms of Nonna, an Italian grandmother who imparted wisdom and culture to the appreciative author. The journal-style writing is delightful, and recipes basic and exceptional. Beyond the Pasta is available now from Gemelli Press, in bookstores and online for $33. Mangia!