Food is more than sustenance for Italians. It is their history, their culture, and their legacy. And the food that is the most Italian is pasta. No other food is so universally prepared, consumed, and loved. The Il Fornaio Pasta Book is a personal collection of executive chef Maurizo Marron's favorite pasta dishes, gathered from all twenty regions of Italy - from Piedmont in the north to Calabria at the tip of the boot. The beauty of pasta lies in its simplicity. Flour, water, and a few other basic ingredients form the basis of an almost endless variety of dishes. Each region of Italy is fiercely proud of their specialties and use completely distinctive ingredients to create unforgettable flavors. Frenette con Pesto alla Genovese features pesto, widely thought to have originated in Liguria. Cappellacci are a favorite in Emilia-Romagna. These hat-shaped pasta are especially delicious when stuffed with butternut squash, parmesan, and walnuts. Along the southern shores, shellfish influences many dishes including the classic Vermicelli alle Vongole, which pairs firm, but tender thin strands of pasta with clams in an aromatic garlic-white wine sauce. Introductory chapters give step-by-step instructions for making fresh pastas, including ravioli, cannelloni, cappelacci, fettuccine, and simple spaghetti. Unusual ingredients are defined in the glossary, while hard-to-find foods can be ordered using the handy source list. Stunning photographs of the home-style recipes will tempt you to try each one - and then go back and try them all again.