From Scarcity to Sauce

The Story of Italian Food. North, South, and Stateside

Mike V Piana

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Paperback

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English

Mike V. Piana
02 June 2025

Cookery, food & drink; Soups & starters

What if your family's pasta night held the key to a forgotten cultural history? For generations, Italian-Americans have gathered around tables piled high with eggplant parm, lasagna, and endless bread baskets. But behind every bite is a story-of poverty and pride, of migration and reinvention. This book uncovers how food became the most powerful connection between Italy's old-world struggles and America's immigrant dreams.

From Scarcity to Sauce isn't a cookbook-it's a love letter to a culture written in tomato gravy and semolina crumbs. Through richly researched chapters and personal recollections, Navy veteran and Italian-American author Mike V. Piana serves up more than recipes-he shares the journey of how Italian food traveled from modest countryside kitchens to the sauce-splattered tables of Brooklyn, New York, and beyond. You'll taste the evolution of dishes like polenta, minestrone, and pizza as they crossed oceans, adapted to new lives, and became American icons.

Written by someone who's lived it-twice. Born into the aroma of garlic and slow-cooked meatballs, Piana blends decades of family tradition with historical insight and culinary storytelling. His twelve years in the Navy only strengthened his appreciation for the flavors of home, making his exploration of Italian-American food as authentic as it is heartfelt.

Beloved by foodies, history buffs, and anyone who's ever argued over the right way to make Sunday sauce. Readers call it ""a delicious mix of memoir and cultural deep dive"" and ""the Italian-American history lesson I didn't know I needed."" Whether you come for the nostalgia, the humor, or the pasta-it'll leave you full.

Mangia your way through history. If you believe food is more than sustenance-it's identity, it's memory, it's family-then grab your copy of From Scarcity to Sauce today and discover why every dish has a deeper story.

Get Your Copy of From Scarcity to Sauce: The Story of Italian Food. North, South, and Stateside, NOW!

By: Mike V Piana
Imprint: Mike V. Piana
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 140mm, Spine: 12mm
Weight: 263g
ISBN: 9798231560875
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 02 June 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Bringing Brooklyn swagger to Ancient mysteries, real-life struggles, and page-turning stories. From the Navy's dedication to the heart of a special needs household, Mike's lived a life packed with discipline, detours, and deep dives. Today, he channels those experiences into unforgettable books - blending research, humor, and heart. Whether he's exposing the cosmic breadcrumbs of ancient aliens, breaking down budgeting without the jargon, or guiding readers through procrastination's creative upside, Mike writes like he lives: boldly, honestly, and always with purpose. If it's got a backstory, a mystery, or a heartbeat - Mike's got something to say about it.