1
of
1
Encyclopedia of Pasta
Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.
Check link for latest rating. ( 65 ratings, 5 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still
learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Summary
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$5099
Unit price
/
Unavailable
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER
Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 3-4 weeks
Found a better price? Request a price match
Encyclopedia of Pasta
$5099
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
Illustrated throughout with original drawings by Luciana Marini, this will bethe standard reference on one of the world's favorite foods for many years tocome, engaging and delighting both general readers and food professionals.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Spaghetti, gnocchi, tagliatellea, ravioli, vincisgrassi, strascinati—pasta in its myriad forms has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet longer than bread. This beautiful volume is the first book to provide a complete history of pasta in Italy, telling its long story via the extravagant variety of shapes it takes and the even greater abundance of names by which it is known.
Food scholar Oretta Zanini De Vita traveled to every corner of her native Italy, recording oral histories, delving into long-forgotten family cookbooks, and searching obscure archives to produce this rich and uniquely personal compendium of historical and geographical information. For each entry, she includes the primary ingredients, preparation techniques, variant names, and the locality where it is made and eaten.
Along the way, Zanini De Vita debunks such culinary myths as Marco Polo's supposed role in pasta's story even as she serves up a feast of new information. Encyclopedia of Pasta, illustrated throughout with original drawings by Luciana Marini, will be the standard reference on one of the world's favourite foods for many years to come, engaging and delighting both general readers and food professionals.
Learn more about Oretta Zanini De Vita's work through this article and slideshow published by the New York Times.
Series: California Studies in Food and Culture
View all-
Yerba Mate
Like coffee or tea, yerba mate is one of the world's most beloved caffeinated beverages. Once dubbed a "devil's drink" by Spanish missionaries in South America only to be later hailed by capitalists and politicians as "green gold," it has a long and storied history. And no country consumes and celebrates yerba mate quite like Argentina. Yerba Mate is the...Paperback$5699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Cuisine and Empire
Rachel Laudan tells the remarkable story of the rise and fall of the world's great cuisines—from the mastery of grain cooking some twenty thousand years ago, to the present—in this superbly researched book. Probing beneath the apparent confusion of dozens of cuisines to reveal the underlying simplicity of the culinary family tree, she shows how periodic seismic shifts in "culinary...Paperback$5699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
The Pierogi Problem
The culinary landscape of Poland is significantly changing, reshaped by a new generation of food producers, chefs, and media personalities. The Pierogi Problem examines people's networks, places, material culture, and media to explain how Polish tastemakers embrace context-specific strategies to localise discourses, practices, and values amid an increasingly globalised food culture. The decades following the end of Poland's socialist regime...Paperback$5699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Nile Nightshade
A cultural and culinary history of modern Egypt through the nation's beloved tomato. By the end of the twentieth century, the tomato—indigenous to the Americas—had become Egypt's top horticultural crop and a staple of Egyptian cuisine. The tomato brought together domestic consumers, cookbook readers, and home cooks through a shared culinary culture that sometimes transcended differences of class, region, gender,...Paperback$5299Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
A History of Cookbooks
A History of Cookbooks provides a sweeping literary and historical overview of the cookbook genre, exploring its development as a part of food culture beginning in the Late Middle Ages. Studying cookbooks from various Western cultures and languages, Henry Notaker traces the transformation of recipes from brief notes with ingredients into detailed recipes with a specific structure, grammar, and vocabulary....Hardback$7599Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
A History of Cookbooks
A History of Cookbooks provides a sweeping literary and historical overview of the cookbook genre, exploring its development as a part of food culture beginning in the Late Middle Ages. Studying cookbooks from various Western cultures and languages, Henry Notaker traces the transformation of recipes from brief notes with ingredients into detailed recipes with a specific structure, grammar, and vocabulary....Paperback$5099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Cumin, Camels, and Caravans
Gary Paul Nabhan takes the reader on a vivid and far-ranging journey across time and space in this fascinating look at the relationship between the spice trade and culinary imperialism. Drawing on his own family's history as spice traders, as well as travel narratives, historical accounts, and his expertise as an ethnobotanist, Nabhan describes the critical roles that Semitic peoples...Hardback$8400Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 2-3 weeks -
Encyclopedia of Pasta
Spaghetti, gnocchi, tagliatellea, ravioli, vincisgrassi, strascinati—pasta in its myriad forms has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet longer than bread. This beautiful volume is the first book to provide a complete history of pasta in Italy, telling its long story via the extravagant variety of shapes it takes and the even greater abundance of names by which it is...Paperback$5099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
The Kingdom of Rye
Celebrated food scholar Darra Goldstein takes readers on a vivid tour of history and culture through Russian cuisine. The Kingdom of Rye unearths the foods and flavours of the Russian land. Preeminent food studies scholar Darra Goldstein offers readers a concise, engaging, and gorgeously crafted story of Russian cuisine and culture. This story demonstrates how national identity is revealed through...Hardback$4799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
The Kingdom of Rye
Celebrated food scholar Darra Goldstein takes readers on a vivid tour of history and culture through Russian cuisine. The Kingdom of Rye unearths the foods and flavours of the Russian land. Preeminent food studies scholar Darra Goldstein offers readers a concise, engaging, and gorgeously crafted story of Russian cuisine and culture. This story demonstrates how national identity is revealed through...Paperback$4799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
Yerba Mate
Like coffee or tea, yerba mate is one of the world's most beloved caffeinated beverages. Once dubbed a "devil's drink" by Spanish missionaries in South America only to be later hailed by capitalists and politicians as "green gold," it has a long and storied history. And no country consumes and celebrates yerba mate quite like Argentina. Yerba Mate is the...Hardback$18099Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks -
The Untold History of Ramen
A rich, salty, and steaming bowl of noodle soup, ramen has become an international symbol of the cultural prowess of Japanese cuisine. In this highly original account of geopolitics and industrialisation in Japan, George Solt traces the meteoric rise of ramen from humble fuel for the working poor to international icon of Japanese culture. Ramen's popularity can be attributed to...Paperback$6699Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Encyclopedia of Pasta by Oretta Zanini De Vita offers a comprehensive exploration of pasta, detailing its styles, origins, and cultural significance. Praised for its depth and authoritative scholarship, the book is described as both a captivating resource and a historical trove, despite not being a traditional cookbook, as it contains no recipes. It is celebrated for its thoroughness in covering the historical, culinary, and etymological aspects of pasta, earning recognition as a definitive work in its field.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780520322752
Publisher: University of California Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 17 September 2019
Country: United States
Imprint: University of California Press
Illustration: 102 line illustrations, 1 map
Contributors:
- Translated by Maureen Fant
- Foreword by Carol Field
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 28.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 229.0mm
Weight: 499g
Pages: 400
About the Author
Oretta Zanini De Vita is a leading Italian food critic and author of several books on Italian cuisine including The Food of Rome and Lazio: History, Folklore, and Recipes and Il cibo e il suo mondo nella campagna romana. Maureen B. Fant is a writer and translator and the coauthor of The Dictionary of Italian Cuisine.
Also by Oretta Zanini De Vita
View all-
Encyclopedia of Pasta
Spaghetti, gnocchi, tagliatellea, ravioli, vincisgrassi, strascinati—pasta in its myriad forms has been a staple of the Mediterranean diet longer than bread. This beautiful volume is the first book to provide a complete history of pasta in Italy, telling its long story via the extravagant variety of shapes it takes and the even greater abundance of names by which it is...Hardback$8599Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 3-4 weeks
More from Cooking & Food
View all-
New ReleaseSoph's Plant Kitchen 30 in 30: 30g of protein, 30 minutes or less
An essential cookbook for anyone looking to increase the amount of plant protein and fibre they eat without spending hours in the kitchen. Instagram sensation and Sunday Times bestselling author @Sophsplantkitchen has created her very best plant-based, high fibre recipes: all with at least 30 grammes of protein, all on the table in 30 minutes or less and all mouth-wateringly...Hardback$4800Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Lunchbox Bible
From the team behind the bestselling sensation Baby Food Bible, Lunchbox Bible is your go-to recipe book for feeding children healthy, allergen-friendly, and nutritionist-approved food that’s guaranteed to please. With 75 recipes and a visual library containing 75 different lunchboxes, this comprehensive guide has been carefully created with time-poor parents in mind. The recipes are simple, quick, nutrient-dense, and get...Hardback$4700Elsewhere:$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseDisney Moana: The Official Cookbook
Embark on a culinary adventure with Moana of Motunui with Pacific recipes inspired by Moana and Moana 2! After a long day of sailing to see how far you’ll go or keeping the demigod Maui out of trouble with Te Fiti, catch a break with the delicious dishes in Moana: The Official Cookbook! Featuring more than 50 recipes spanning the...Hardback$4499Elsewhere:$5299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseFitwaffle's Easy 6
Discover how simple cooking can be every day with over 100 easy, tasty recipes using only 6 ingredients. "My mission is simple. I want to help people feel more confident in the kitchen and show that baking and cooking don't need to be complicated. Whether you're brand new in the kitchen or you've been doing it for years, my goal...Hardback$4199Elsewhere:$5000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseSo Good Express
Simple, nutritious recipes for when time is of the essence. Bringing together delicious and easy-to-follow recipes with the sound advice of a fully qualified nutritionist, number one bestselling author Emily English shows us that good food can make you feel amazing and bring you joy, every single day. Blending her nutrition expertise with a love of simple, fresh food, Emily...Hardback$4799Elsewhere:$6000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
BBQ
Britain's best-selling chef shares his BBQ passion and secrets. We all love a good BBQ, but too often they centre around some slightly burnt sausages and burgers. Not anymore! Jamie's got 90 recipes to show us just how brilliant and versatile barbecuing can be, whatever the season. With recipes suitable for both charcoal and gas BBQs, Jamie shares his key...Hardback$5499Elsewhere:$7000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseNo Stress Recipe Queen
Take the chaos out of the kitchen every night of the week with the Masterchef favourite, globally beloved Insta cook and bestselling author of Air Fryer Queen and Easy Dinner Queen. Welcome to the No Stress Dinner Club! Put major taste on the table with these delicious, easy and stress-free recipes by the bestselling queen of simple, fun, and fuss-free...Paperback$2900Elsewhere:$3299Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
My Mediterranean Life
Transform your health and boost your energy with more than 200 easy, delicious recipes for weight loss, longevity and disease prevention.Bestselling clinical nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo combines her family's cherished recipes, her extensive clinical expertise and science-backed research to present a contemporary adaptation of the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet involves the type of eating observed in the world’s Blue Zones...Paperback$3699Elsewhere:$4699Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Hungry Cook
Olivia Galletly, aka The Hungry Cook, loves food - all food. She spends her life creating recipes for her popular blog, Dish magazine, and many well-known New Zealand food brands. Olivia loves to create delicious recipes for the everyday cook, many of which are adaptations of old classics she's loved and experimented with for years. This cookbook gathers Liv's tried...Paperback$3799Elsewhere:$4500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Fatimas
Fatima’s has been serving bold, fresh flavour to Aucklanders since 1995–now, with more than 100 recipes, you can bring a little of that magic into your own kitchen. This book is packed with the dishes and techniques that have kept our kitchen humming for 30 years. From slow cuts to zesty salads, from punchy sauces to late-night pitas, each recipe...Hardback$5499Elsewhere:$5999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Nadias Farm Kitchen
Nadia’s Farm Kitchen is a warm, inspiring, and deeply personal cookbook celebrating the rhythms of the seasons and the simple joys of life on the land. Featuring over 70 wholesome, seasonal recipes and more than a dozen heartfelt short stories about life on the farm, this book offers a unique glimpse into the life of beloved cook and TV personality Nadia...Hardback$4400Elsewhere:$5500Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Simple Dinners Every Day
'This book is here to help! Whether you're here to completely change the way you plan and cook, or just to find a few go-to dinners that will stop you from panic-ordering takeaway, I've got you.' With more than 3 million followers, Nicole Maguire of Simple Home Edit is loved for her flavour-packed, family-friendly dinner ideas, from cosy bakes that...Paperback$3799Elsewhere:$4999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
Cooking & Food lists from the team
Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!
-
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Cookbooks for Eating Plant Based
I (Lizzy) used to be vegan for a few years, and my husband still is. Now I eat vegetarian, he eats vegan,...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Cookbooks for Kids!
I love that there are such an amazing range of cookbooks for tamariki to get involved with making food and learning the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
Lizzy's Top 10 Favourite Cookbooks
As a bit of a cookbook collector here are some of my absolute favourites including the ones I gift to others, the...View the list -
![]()
![]()
![Gluten Free Bakes]()
Lizzy's listCooking & Food
The Best Gluten Free Cookbooks
I got diagnosed as Coeliac last year which came as a big surprise! Finding amazing Gluten Free cookbooks has really helped me...View the list -
![]()
![Thyme to Cook]()
![Always Delicious]()
Shirl's listCooking & Food
Popular Upcoming Cookbook Releases for 2026
There are so many cookbooks being released in 2026 that we are excited for! We have a range of Aotearoa cookbook authors...View the list
