About La Pasta Bowl
About La Pasta Bowl: it begins with a simple belief: pasta is more than food — it’s a way of living well. Recipes, traditions, and everyday Italian sensibility come together, centered on cooking that’s honest, satisfying, and meant to be shared.
At its core, it reflects three guiding ideas: approachable pasta recipes and Italian-inspired dishes; a thoughtful approach to healthy eating and living rooted in balance and moderation; and the philosophy behind the book, Eat Pasta Like An Italian. Together, they form a place that celebrates choosing quality ingredients, slowing down in the kitchen, and enjoying pasta as part of a richer, more intentional life.
Meet Nick
About La Pasta Bowl: My Story
I’m Nick France, a third-generation Italian-American home chef with roots in Brooklyn and Long Island, now living in Brooksville, Florida. My great-grandfather, Nicola Firenze, migrated to the United States from Naples in 1886. He arrived through Ellis Island and settled in Brooklyn, NY, where my grandfather, my father, and I were born. If you're wondering how I got the name, France, it was changed to be less Italian decades ago. A story for another day. My love for cooking began in the kitchens I grew up in — filled with the aroma of simmering sauces, fresh basil, and the sound of family gathered around the table. For me, food has always been more than just what’s on the plate. It’s tradition, love, and a way of bringing people together.
Over the years, I’ve carried those traditions with me and blended them with my own experiences. La Pasta Bowl is my way of sharing that journey with you. It’s not just about recipes, but about living a healthier, happier life by choosing fresh ingredients, avoiding processed foods, and embracing the Italian belief that “to eat well is to live well.”
I’m not a professional chef — I’m a passionate home cook who loves creating meals that bring joy, laughter, and connection. My hope is that through this website and my book, you’ll find inspiration to slow down, cook from scratch, and savor the simple moments that happen around the table.
When I’m not making pasta dishes or testing new recipes, you’ll probably find me with my wife and kids, playing music, writing, or spending time outdoors here in Florida. Cooking, for me, is about much more than food — it’s about sharing a piece of myself, my family, and my heritage with you.
Join me in the kitchen, and together, let’s make every meal a celebration.
Grazie e benvenuti,
Nick "Firenze" France
Nick France, Italian-American home chef.
THE PASTA BOOK
Eat Pasta Like An Italian
Eat Pasta Like An Italian (Mangia La Pasta Come Un Italiano) is your guide to understanding pasta beyond the plate. With a strong focus on how to choose the best pasta, the book explores tradition, quality, and the Italian philosophy that eating pasta is about more than a meal — it’s about living well.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to choose the best dry pasta
- The art of pairing pasta shapes with sauces
- The cultural traditions and everyday wisdom about pasta
- How to enjoy pasta as part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle
- Why simplicity, fresh ingredients, and tradition matter
La Pasta Bowl’s Recipes
Discover recipes and techniques passed down through generations.
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