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US book reviews: Pasta & Magic
Here are some reviews left by US readers on various websites for Pasta & Magic: Oil Sauces
(ratings on Amazon are scored from 1-5 stars)
*****
A passion for pasta!
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Francine Laura
Reviewed on amazon.com on 23 June 2025
I’m thrilled that Mark Gowen wrote this cookbook! I’ve been following him for several years. I’d rather eat pasta than almost any other food and I love his simple and straightforward approach to cooking it. I also love his family backstory. His recipes bring his childhood memories to life. And then there are the photographs which are exquisite and mouth watering. This is a must for any pasta lover!
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*****
A refreshingly approachable take on Italian cooking
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heartboston
Reviewed on amazon.com on 24 June 2025
My cookbook collection is vast, and includes many, many books devoted to pasta and Italian food. But this book fills a gap - especially in the current cookbook market - in that it is written by and for a home cook. It is not overly styled or edited, and the vignettes are directed to you, the person doing the cooking, from the author, the person who wrote the book and the recipes. It feels very authentic, from the pictures to the voice to the recipes, and all of the stories in between. I appreciate the straightforwardness of it all. This is a book I can pick up on any given day and cook from, without fuss. Even though my family is vegetarian, there are plenty of recipes for me to choose from, and the ones that have meat or fish can be adapted without much trouble. I look forward to the next three books in the series, and to adding this one to my regular rotation!
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*****
A must have cookbook for pasta lovers
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Jeffrey S Solberg
Reviewed on amazon.com on 24 June 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Mark is a gifted storyteller who shares the roots of his passion for pasta, weaving in his family history and childhood memories. The book offers clear, easy-to-follow recipes alongside expert lessons in pasta-making techniques. Stunning food photography and captivating images of Italy bring the dishes and their cultural heritage to life. This is one of the most beautiful pasta cookbooks I’ve seen in years.
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*****
Literally making pasta magical!
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heartboston
Reviewed on amazon.com on 24 June 2025
My cookbook collection is vast, and includes many, many books devoted to pasta and Italian food. But this book fills a gap - especially in the current cookbook market - in that it is written by and for a home cook. It is not overly styled or edited, and the vignettes are directed to you, the person doing the cooking, from the author, the person who wrote the book and the recipes. It feels very authentic, from the pictures to the voice to the recipes, and all of the stories in between. I appreciate the straightforwardness of it all. This is a book I can pick up on any given day and cook from, without fuss. Even though my family is vegetarian, there are plenty of recipes for me to choose from, and the ones that have meat or fish can be adapted without much trouble. I look forward to the next three books in the series, and to adding this one to my regular rotation!
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*****
Literally making pasta magical!
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The Cookbook Collectors
Reviewed on amazon.com on 26 June 2025
Beautiful is an understatement! We received an advanced reader copy of this cookbook and are so grateful! The attention to details, the story throughout, and the recipes are all incredible! So, so many recipes we want to try!
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*****
Pasta lovers must have...
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J. Lunde
Reviewed on amazon.com on 1 July 2025
This is a very well-written book with easy-to-follow instructions and amazing recipes. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to explore delicious and new ways to make pasta. The photography is amazing, and the recipes will have you experimenting with different flavors and textures.
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*****
A delightful and passionnate pasta book
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LuckyTTCC
Reviewed on amazon.com on 3 July 2025
Thank you for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of the book!
This is such a sweet, heartfelt and well-researched tribute to pasta and the range of oil based sauces that lovingly cover it. The author's passion shines through and although he's not a professional, these recipes come straight from his heart and and love of food. It's a wonderful addition to a cookbook library for those who not only love to taste food but who crave learning about what they're eating as well.
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*****
A must have book for pasta lovers
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Emily T
Reviewed on amazon.com on 6 July 2025
I own many pasta cookbooks, but not one like this! Mark has done a tremendous job balancing personal stories with expert knowledge on the art of making pasta. I love that he's a proud home cook, you can tell that his goal is to inspire people like himself to take risks and try new things in the kitchen!
What I loved:
- everything was shot and styled in his kitchen, by him! no fancy food styling, just real (beautiful) cooking
- how it was arranged: I love how he broke pasta into 4 categories of sauce, this is a refreshing take and helped me put into words my favorite way to make sauces (that magic combination of pasta water and fat)
- the breakdowns included in each recipe: the "what you need to do section" helped me skim through the book to figure out how intense each recipe might be. Knowing the basic steps allowed me to see if I was up to the task without having to read through each and every step of all of the recipes I was choosing between
-QR codes that took you to specific recipe pages on his website (I've never seen this before!) I loved that I got more images, tips, and nutrition info for each recipe.
Some things to keep in mind
- Italian words/phrases and UK specific ingredient recommendations: Mark warns you early on that he'll be using traditional words and phrases for ingredients. He provides a glossary and pronunciation guide, which is incredibly helpful! I felt like this added a lot of charm and authenticity to the book.
- This book will make you want to book a vacation to Italy ASAP, but lucky for you, you'll have this book to tide you over until you can make it over there.
I received an advance copy of this book as a product sample, and can't wait to order the real book when the time comes!
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*****
This book reads more like a romance than a cookbook, and a good one at that
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Tony Smith
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 6 July 2025
Just finished reading the advanced reader copy of the book. Wasn't sure that I'd expect from a receipt book written by someone I'd known briefly at school. Well he looks to have spent his time more wisely on writing, cooking and photography than I have.
This book reads more like a romance than a cookbook, aa least its not like the ones I've been gifted over my life at Christmas and the like. The author's love of pasta clearly shines through and you are taken on a guided tour of the food. Particularly like the way that he shares his gained experience, and goes out of his way to write for home cooks.
Photos are stunning especially given they are examples of the meals he has prepared for his family. I think this book is a work if art and the best part. It's the 1st of 4 volumes.
Well played sir, well played
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39
*****
This cookbook left me inspired, and incredibly hungry for more!
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Agata
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 6 July 2025
I'm so glad I've received an advanced reader copy of Mark's cookbook, it is absolutely phenomenal.
The photography is stunning, and it must be one of the most aesthetically pleasing cookbooks I've set my hands on.
It is full of stories about the dishes and the culture behind them, full of technical tips and wonderful anecdotes.
The fact that Mark isn't a professional chef and has managed to create something this exceptional is a true inspiration, and certainly says a lot about the quality of his recipes.
Now for the recipes - they are incredible! You'll find everything from a simple 2 ingredient classic Italian sauce, through contemporary recipes, to some wonderfully odd British-Italian combination that made my mouth water. I was so excited about the spaghettoni with haggis and roasted tomatoes!
Some of the other favourites include coffee tagliatelle in white pork ragu (what an idea!) and sagne torte with broad bean macco and grilled octopus.
Plenty of ideas for everyone, and you don't have to be a fancy experienced chef to enjoy this one!
10/10, truly well done, Mark!
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40
*****
Lots of great recipe ideas.
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Amazon Customer
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 8 July 2025
Lovely Cookbook!
The pictures are gorgeous and everything looks so inviting. I enjoyed reading through the recipes the most, great stories and you can tell there's alot of love put into this book.
Lots of interesting new recipe ideas for me to try such as the pasta with cauliflower sauce and black pudding and the crab ravioli.
Great read and looking forward to enjoying more cooking.
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41
*****
Great inspiration!
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Russell Hanby Chef
Reviewed on amazon.com on 8 July 2025
I was lucky enough to recieve an advance copy of the book, and I can say this is a great resource and inspiration. The book is filled with excellent recipes both traditional and with modern twists, beautiful photography, and great background on all entries! This will be a great addition to your cookbook shelf.
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42
*****
Per gli amanti dei primi piatti un libro da non perdere.
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Berardi Martino
Reviewed on amazon.it on 10 July 2025
Ho avuto la fortuna di poter visionare questo libro scritto in inglese e mi ha entusiasmato tantissimo. È pieno di ricette dei primi piatti italiani accompagnati da bellissime foto . Ringrazio l'autore di Pasta & Magic per l'opportunità . @mo.ma_kitchen1 on Instagram.
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43
*****
Great recipes for anyone who loves pasta!
🇨🇦
Jean Ellsworth
Reviewed on amazon.ca on 10 July 2025
I received an advance copy of this cookbook and really loved it. The stories and pictures are beautiful. The recipes sound delicious! I can’t wait to start cooking…starting with the coffee tagliatelle!
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44
*****
More than just a cook book!
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Lucy
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 13 July 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of Mark’s book and what a delight it was! This is more than just a cookbook, it’s full of lovely anecdotes, stories and memories! The photography is stunning and really brings this book to life. The recipes combine classic recipes, with authentic Italian ingredients, and more inspiring and unusual combinations - and there’s something for everyone! Variations to the sauces, ingredients and types of pasta included in the recipes makes it easy to substitute! If you love cooking, you’ll love this. I’ve made a handful of recipes so far and they’ve been a huge hit with my whole family, including two young children! Cannot wait to see what the other books in the series will be like…
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*****
Delicious and personal all in one!
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Rosie
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 13 July 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader copy of the book. As a foodie myself, it was such a lovely read.. a real blend of personality, stories and great food. I’m particularly excited to make squid ink linguine with king prawns!
The addition of nutritional elements and qr codes on the recipes is a welcome addition and makes using the recipes even easier!
Highly recommend!
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46
*****
Gorgeous and Simple—Perfect Pasta Inspiration!
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Jane
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 14 July 2025
I was very lucky to receive an advanced reader copy of Pasta & Magic.
This cookbook is absolutely beautiful, every recipe is paired with stunning photos that make you want to start cooking right away. The dishes look impressive but aren’t overloaded with ingredients, which makes them very approachable even for weeknight meals.
I also really loved the personal photographs at the beginning, it adds such a warm, authentic touch and gives you a feel for the author’s passion and story behind the recipes. A must-have for any pasta lover!
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47
*****
Your book is amazing!
🇺🇸
Linda Angelo
Reviewed on amazon.com on 5 July 2025
I was happy to receive an advanced copy of this wonderful book. A fabulous cookbook with captivating stories, and featuring authentic Italian pasta recipes that are beautifully illustrated! Love how the recipes are categorized, making the specific dishes very easy to find. As they say, you eat with your eyes first, and just looking at the mouthwatering photos makes you want to run into your kitchen and start cooking!! Linda Dangelo
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*****
Magic to your pasta dishes!
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Molly
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 15 July 2025
Was so pleased to receive an Advance Reader Copy of this book! A lovely personal book with plenty of fantastic recipes to choose from - definitely recommend if you're looking to add some magic to your pasta dishes!
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*****
This one is for the pasta lovers
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Anya
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 16 July 2025
I received an advance reading copy of this beautiful cookbook and I was blown aways. I love learning about Mark's family history and where his love for pasta has started. It's brimming with recipes that can be executed in no time, making for a perfect midweek meal and recipes that require a little more time attention which would make them a special treat for your loved ones. Beautiful photographs (shot by Mark himself), clear instructions and lots of extra tips.
If you love pasta, you need this book.
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50
*****
What a glorious book!
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Adrian McInnes
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 18 July 2025
I had a sneak preview with an Advanced Reader copy of this book & it’s so beautifully written I’m ordering a hard copy! An absolute joy to read, so different insightful & I cannot wait to get started on the mouthwatering recipes.
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51
*****
Where Pasta Becomes Poetry
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DL
Reviewed on amazon.com on 14 July 2025
I want to start by saying I was lucky enough to receive an advanced copy of this cookbook. From the very first page, it was clear that this wasn’t just another collection of recipes, it was a deeply personal and heartfelt journey. A truly great cookbook is more than just instructions on how to cook, it tells a story, shares a piece of someone’s life, and invites you into a world beyond the kitchen. This book does exactly that and more effortlessly.
What makes this cookbook stand out is how much of the author’s personality and heritage is infused throughout. The witty humor, the stunning photography of various Italian regions, and the touching nod to his mother’s plates all combine to create a sense of warmth and authenticity. You can feel the love and legacy in every detail. It’s a cookbook written from the heart, and every page feels like a story being passed down, with food as the language.
One of the things I appreciated most is how this book shatters the narrow view many people have of Italian pasta. Too often, Italian food is reduced to just a handful of dishes—spaghetti and meatballs, maybe carbonara if you’re lucky. Instead, it’s filled with real recipes that Italian families cook and eat. Dishes that are deeply regional, inventive, and full of tradition. Each recipe opens a door to a new corner of Italy, taking you to places you never imagined pasta could go. You could say it’s not just a cookbook—it’s a culinary passport.
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52
*****
Where Pasta Becomes Poetry
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Sue Aberbach
Reviewed on amazon.com on 16 July 2025
The first of a four-part cookbook series on pasta, Pasta and Magic: Oil Sauces by Mark Gowen offers so much! Beautiful photographs of both food and scenes of Italy, inspiring recipes using pasta and oil-based sauces, and informative background about the recipes and their sources. The sauces range from authentic versions of popular sauces using tomatoes, cream, and oils, to seafood, game, and poultry sauces. All sorts of pasta shapes are featured—ravioli, fetttuccine, cappelletti, and many, many more. The instructions are clear and presented in a step-by-step form, accompanied by the ingredient list, and a useful QR code to access the recipe.
I’m really looking forward to cooking from this new cookbook!
Thank you for the advance copy! An impressive and memorable celebration of Italian pasta sauces!
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53
*****
Excellent recipes and pics
🇮🇹
Mary
Reviewed on amazon.it on 18 July 2025
Ho trovato questo libro fonte d'ispirazione,ho adorato le foto che accompagnano le ricette.
Ricette di facile esecuzione alla portata di tutti,fortemente consigliato
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*****
10/10 for pasta lovers!
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Rebecca Withers
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 18 July 2025
This book is personal, informative and all things pasta. The pictures used in this book are all taken by the author and I love that, it gives it a homely feel and not to mention the quality. The recipes are straight forward and easy to follow, complete with a QR code to find out nutritional information. If you want to learn about pasta and how to cook it I highly recommend you purchase this book! I received this as a advanced copy from Mark himself :)
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*****
A beautifully illustrated recipe book
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Becki Dell
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 18 July 2025
Mark and I have been connected on socials for a while, so I was delighted to receive an Advance Reader Copy of the book to check out! The first part about his late Mother collecting ceramics really made me laugh, it's so sweet. I too felt the same about my grandmothers collection and the irony now that I wish I had ALL of her plates from previous, to serve my dishes on is real!
I love the book, the detailed overview, the photography is stunning, and the recipes are easy to recreate as a home chef, nothing pretentious or too difficult, just affordable recipes with maximum flavour and quality ingredients. I can't believe how many there are either, it literally caters to every taste! I'm excited to try more of them at home for my family!
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56
*****
Great recipes, stories and photos. Pasta lovers must have.
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Mayzi
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 19 July 2025
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book. Excellent from front to back. Lots of thoughtful, easy-to-follow recipes, lots of stories from the author and some great photos of Italy.
Certainly more than you expect from a traditional cook book. I learnt quite a few new ways to create wonderful pasta dishes.
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57
*****
Just beautiful
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J
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 19 July 2025
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book. Excellent from front to back. Lots of thoughtful, easy-to-follow recipes, lots of stories from the author and some great photos of Italy.
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*****
A beautifully illustrated recipe book
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Helena S
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 21 July 2025
A really wonderful book and a must have for all pasta lovers . The recipes are great and easy to follow and delicious . The photos take you on a joyful journey through Italy too. The book market has lots of Italian cook books but this is really a cut above and I could not recommend it more highly . A perfect birthday or Xmas gift too .
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*****
Terrific Cookbook
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Lou
Reviewed on amazon.com on 18 July 2025
I received an advance copy of this book as a product sample, and I will be going back to it again and again to re-create some of Mark’s recipes. A very easy cookbook to follow, perfect for the home chef, and many of the recipes are accompanied by great stories or explanations about the background of the dish. And it is broken up into categories of sauces, such as oil, dairy, tomato, and pesto sauces. Lots of unique recipes with unique proteins. A job well done!
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60
*****
Brilliant pasta recipes
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Simon
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 22 July 2025
A beautifully written book containing family history, fantastic detail and insights into the world of pasta and some really fantastic recipes from Mark. Definitely one to add to your collection if you’re a pasta lover!
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*****
For a Pasta Lover in your life!
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Cat M.
Reviewed on amazon.com on 20 July 2025
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of Mark’s book pre-release and I am absolutely blown away by how beautiful it is. Gorgeous photos, lovely family stories and of course really sublime pasta recipes. As someone who is also passionate about pasta, this book will serve me as a resource when I’m looking for something new - which there is a plethora of in this book, or perfecting something I’ve tried before. Each recipe has a story and every photo of the pasta is beautifully displayed on an antique plate. The visual person that I am greatly appreciates photos of each dish. Highly recommend this book for the pasta lover in your life!
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*****
Beautiful book
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James Trood
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 25 July 2025
beautiful book with amazing recipes, easy to follow and beautiful pictures. pasta will always be my favourite food and this book contains a HUGE range of different pastas and sauces. it’s like a throwback to our trips to italy!
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*****
everything you would ever want
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MIchelle moles
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 25 July 2025
This book has everything that you would ever want. I literally cannot wait to cook some of these amazing recipes that Mark has created. I received an advance copy of the book; thanks again, Mark.
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*****
everything you would ever want
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Ashley Kippax
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 20 July 2025
I received an advanced reader copy of this (e)book and was super excited to choose from the very many recipes! The book is clearly written with real passion and feels very authentic and lovely to read. The photos showing the dishes are also fantastic!
I cooked the linguine in a white puttanesca with anchovy, capers, olives and chilli. We absolutely loved it! Can’t wait to try a few more!
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*****
A spectacular culinary adventure! Gorgeous book!
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terry
Reviewed on amazon.ca on 24 July 2025
I was very lucky to get an advanced copy of this book and I must say it's a magical experience. The illustrations and articles are so interesting. The photo illustrations are remarkable. However the best part are the many amazing, gastronomic, and original recipes available in this book - absolutely beautiful and unique recipes! There are so many that I am so anxious to try. This book would make a wonderful gift as well - it has so much to offer! Highly recommend it!
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*****
an authentically simple yet beautiful book
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Emma
Reviewed on amazon.co.uk on 28 July 2025
What a fantastic book, and far from your ‘usual’ cookbook!
I received this as an Advance Reader Copy, and it’s been a pleasure reading it. Mark has created the most beautiful book filled to the brim with authentic recipes, stunning photos (both of the food and stunning Italy), and his family story.
I love how authentic the book feels and also homely. My husband’s mum is Italian and I love Italian food and I cannot wait to make some of these recipes.
I also love the handy phonetic spelling of certain words (which I will be practising).
A definite book to add to your kitchen shelf.