Social Influencer Creates New Model For Food and Restaurant Marketing

Pasta Queen is a viral sensation around authentic Italian Food

The next generation of culinary artisans is changing the industry. These artisans have a new approach to reaching and satisfying the next generation of consumers. This podcast will explore chefs and artisans worldwide, diving into their stories and passion.

In this episode of Chef AF, I chat with Nadia Caterina Munno, known as The Pasta Queen, about building her brand, the importance and influence of family, her passion for authenticity, and the inspiration for her debut cookbook, The Pasta Queen: A Just Gorgeous Cookbook.

Munno was born and raised in Rome before moving to the United States. She comes from a generation of pasta makers. Her father's family is south near Naples, where the pasta factory business started in the 1800s. Munno’s family have been farmers since the 1700s, which instilled in her the love and passion for food.

Munno, a mother of four, talks about creating The Pasta Queen, her brand, from scratch; she said she had a premonition in 2015 while in London in a corporate environment. And I was dealing with contracts and sales quotas and all of that. She says, “I kind of made a New Year's resolution that I wanted to go back to my passion, and I love entertaining and cooking.” Munno adds, “I started on YouTube by posting occasional videos of me cooking and showing my authentic family recipes.”

The Pasta Queen quickly grew her community on TikTok, Instagram, and back to YouTube by sticking to her mission of showing authentic Italian cuisine. She says, “I think it's because they're such simple and cost-effective, comforting recipes that are easy for people to make at home. And I think that sharing those recipes got me where I am because people keep sharing my recipes with their loved ones and friends, and they’re simple recipes. So I think that that's the key here.”

To hear Munno talk about the importance of elevating each other, get The Pasta Queen’s recipe for Lord Lemony Pesto plus her top three sauces.

BONUS Recipe

RECIPE

Lord Lemony Pesto

Serves 4 to 6

• 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves, plus more for garnish

• ¾ cup unsalted shelled pistachios

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1 ½ cups finely grated Pecorino Romano

• Juice of ½ lemon (about 2 tablespoons), plus lemon zest for garnish

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 pound store-bought gnocchi

Ignite the fire and bring water to a boil in a large pot over high heat.

Separately, while the water reaches a rolling boil, combine the mint, salt, pistachios, garlic, Pecorino Romano, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil in the bowl of a food processor. Blend until smooth, drizzling in the remaining oil as you blend, but only as much as the pesto can absorb. You may not need all the oil.

Use a spatula to scrape the pesto into a large bowl—season with salt to taste.

When the water has reached a rolling boil, season with salt until it tastes like seasoned soup, then add the gnocchi, working in batches if necessary so the pot doesn’t get overcrowded. Cook until tender, 2 to 2 ½ minutes, then transfer to the bowl with the pesto and 2 tablespoons of pasta cooking water.

Gently stir the gnocchi and pesto together. Serve garnished with fresh mint leaves and lemon zest.