The Pasta Queen Talks New Book, Amazon Series Produced by Reese Witherspoon

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After speaking with Nadia Giorgini, I am truly inspired and captivated by her journey and passion for Italian cuisine. Her story is a testament to the power of following one’s dreams and embracing new opportunities that life presents.

Lidia Bastianich and Stanley Tucci, be prepared for some competition! The Pasta Queen is rapidly gaining popularity as America’s cherished and adored authority on authentic Italian cooking.

Born in Rome and currently residing in Tampa, influencer and culinary expert Nadia Caterina Munno, who joined the United States in 2015, has amassed a social media following of over 11.5 million people. Specifically, she boasts 4.5 million followers on Instagram, 3.8 million on TikTok, 1.2 million on YouTube, and 1.1 million on Facebook.

Munno initially gained popularity on TikTok during the pandemic, captivating audiences with vibrant cooking videos centered around Italian cuisine, particularly pasta dishes. Known for her exuberance, she’s famous for her signature phrase, “just gorgeous,” which she delivers dramatically when presenting her prepared meals. As a mother of four, she has collaborated with brands such as Williams-Sonoma and Whole Foods, and also has a premium line of copper cookware in collaboration with Ruffoni.

Munno is ready to release her second cookbook with Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster; her first edition was a top-seller on the New York Times list. Her new 13-episode series on Amazon Prime stars The Pasta Queen as she travels through four Italian regions, delving into her Italian heritage to uncover the secrets of delicious Italian cuisine. All ingredients used in the show, along with various Pasta Queen merchandise, are available for purchase directly from the Amazon Prime website. Munno is well-versed in digital marketing, and she openly acknowledges that her success didn’t happen overnight or by chance, but as a result of years of dedicated effort.

The latest Amazon Prime show is co-produced by Munno and Reese Witherspoon, whose Hello Sunshine production company has been instrumental in the creation of “The Pasta Queen” series. As Munno recounted, Witherspoon was among her earliest famous supporters on TikTok, with Drew Barrymore also contributing to Munno’s rising popularity.

Catching up with The Pasta Queen in Tampa, The Hollywood Reporter Roma delved into her preferred pasta dishes, her journey to stardom as an influencer, and the mutual affection between America and Italy.

Speaking of the extraordinary Pasta Queen, she’s truly a sensation! You might have seen her on YouTube, or perhaps read her New York Times best-selling book titled “The Pasta Queen”. Now, she’s gracing our screens with a brand new series available on Amazon Prime. So, what can we expect from this new series? Let me tell you…

The show, known as “The Pasta Queen,” is deeply rooted in the tale of a genuine Italian family on Amazon Prime Video. For me, it represents my origins and the path that has shaped me into who I am now.

And it’s about good pasta, I imagine.

Amazing pasta.

What’s your favorite pasta as the Pasta Queen?

The puttanesca.

The puttanesca is a type of pasta that translates roughly to “prostitute’s pasta” in English.

I call it the lady of the night’s pasta.

Oh, that’s much more elegant. And what are the ingredients?

Among my preferred ingredients, we have ripe tomatoes, savory anchovies, tangy capers, briny olives, and fresh parsley. In essence, it’s a combination of the finest flavors. Accompanying these is my go-to pasta form, spaghetti.

Hey there! I’ve been thoroughly enjoying your series. Could you enlighten me on the deeper message you aimed to convey in this episode, not just about making pasta, but more so about the journey of exploring Italy and its rich culture?

It seems like we all could benefit from being more aware and engaged with our senses, as well as expressing ourselves more passionately and theatrically.

You certainly don’t skimp on the dramatic. Every time you introduce a new pasta dish, you end up saying, it’s gorgeous. So, let’s get back to the story of Nadia. You’re born in Rome. You grew up in Rome. You moved to England. You marry an Englishman. You only come to America, what, in 2015, 2016?

At the end of 2015.

So, what’s the secret to becoming a YouTube star with a massive fanbase? Do you currently boast 4 million followers on Facebook?

I think a total of 11.5 million followers across platforms on social.

Just how did that happen?

It’s clear to me that both you and I, along with many others, would agree that there’s no such thing as immediate success. The creation of Pasta Queen, for me, is the result of all the passions and knowledge I’ve accumulated throughout my life. I began exploring pasta when I was in my mid-thirties, which means I was a mature adult and a mother at that time, so you can understand the journey I’ve been on.

And you were an expert at digital marketing as well.

As a digital marketing professional, I have a unique background – I’ve delved into the world of poetry and literature. In another life, I was a storyteller on the stage at Teatro Ghione in Rome, located on Via delle Fornaci. This experience also led me to explore improvisation. Few people know that I once starred in a movie as a child. I’ve also lent my voice to commercials in Rome. All these experiences have culminated into the role I play at Pasta Queen, where everything you see is a reflection of my lifelong passions.

The Amazon Prime series is co-produced by you, other team members, and Reese Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine.

Yes.

How did you get to know Reese Witherspoon? Was she a fan of yours?

Indeed, she was among the initial famous figures who championed me, boosted my profile, and began following me. Now, we’ve been acquainted for about three years, and our relationship blossomed quite swiftly and passionately.

That’s great.

After that, Drew Barrymore has consistently shown great support towards me. I’ve had the privilege of appearing on her show multiple times. I believe I was one of the initial guests when her talk show first debuted. Furthermore, she’s been instrumental in assisting me with the book that eventually made it onto the New York Times Best Sellers list.

Could you elaborate on your perspective regarding how Americans view both themselves and pasta, as it’s often associated with fettuccine Alfredo among us, however, this is actually not a common pasta dish in its original Italian context.

No, what we know it as in Italy is burro e parmigiano. Butter and parmigiano pasta.

Right.

Indeed, during one of my shows on Prime, I delve into the authentic account of Alfredo’s life, revealing who he was, and I had the privilege of meeting his granddaughters as well.

Wow.

Fun fact: It’s quite intriguing that the dish known as Fettuccine Alfredo originated right here in Rome, not something many are aware of.

It was conceived in Rome where there’s still a restaurant called Alfredo’s.

Discover the hidden truths behind the authentic origin of Fettuccine Alfredo, as revealed by a dedicated couple who lay claim to this culinary legend.

Regarding your point, could it be that Americans are rediscovering Italian cuisine? Consider their admiration for Lidia Bastianich, followed by Stanley Tucci’s Italian food series on CNN, and now the rise of the Pasta Queen. What might this trend suggest about American interest in Italian food?

There’s a strong affinity between Italians and Americans that dates back to World War II when America rescued us from danger. For many Italians, America represents something iconic – it’s home to Hollywood, the biggest stars, and the best movies. On the other hand, Americans appreciate Italy for its relaxed lifestyle. Furthermore, I admire Americans greatly because they produce so many successful entrepreneurs.

But they need to take some time off, and go to Italy?

And when they go there, it’s dolce vita.

Dolce vita.

They develop affection, they invite their loved ones, they admire the buildings. It’s quite antique yet enchanting.

What’s your next project? The new book is called The Art of Italian Cooking.

Yeah, the new cookbook is coming Nov. 12.

Great. Who’s the publisher?

Simons and Schuster’s out of New York.

So, book, Amazon Prime and merchandise. What kind of merchandise can I get online? Where do I go?

In essence, what we’ve achieved with Amazon is linking a storefront to their series. This means that viewers can purchase nearly all the items shown in each episode directly from this storefront.

Really?

Yes.

The ultimate in product placement…

Products, ingredients, my cookbooks, my merch — everything can be shopped.

“Going great with the Pasta Queen competition, Nadia! Thanks a bunch for chatting with us.

Thank you, Alan. You are just gorgeous.

So are you.

Ciao bello.

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2024-11-13 01:55