A Pasta Tour

Travel across Italy and discover the pasta dishes that shape each region in this beautiful cookbook.

For Italians, pasta isn’t just a dish—it’s part of their identity. Every shape, filling, and sauce tells a story which reflects the landscape and history of the places they come from. Whether it’s the saffron-stained shells of Sardinia’s malloreddus or the hand-cut ribbons of Emilia-Romagna’s tagliatelle, each of Italy’s 20 regions have their own pasta traditions which continue to be celebrated and protected.

A Pasta Tour is a journey through these dishes and traditions, exploring how geography and culture have shaped the pasta dishes that come from each of Italy’s regions. Discover the origins of iconic pasta shapes, such as orecchiette, pici, and ravioli, and the sauces they are traditionally served with, such as pesto alla Genovese, ragu alla Bolognese, or carbonara.

Written by Pia Gava, cook, author, and former MasterChef contestant, A Pasta Tour invites you to taste your way down the Italian peninsula—from the alpine kitchens of the north to the sun-soaked coasts of the south. This is a celebration of Italy’s most beloved food, and the people and places that make it.

About The Author

Pia Gava is a Melbourne-based Italian–Australian cook, author, and MasterChef Australia 2017 contestant. Growing up in a close-knit Italian family, she learned to make pasta and traditional dishes from her parents, nurturing a lifelong love of food. Since her MasterChef success, Pia hosts pasta-making classes and workshops that celebrate authentic Italian flavors. A Pasta Tour is her second book.