Over 3.5 million followers on TikTok and an impressive 3.8 million on Instagram know her as The Pasta Queen – a lover of pasta, drama and all things authentically Italian. Beyond the screen and behind her vibrant online persona, she’s Nadia Caterina Munno – a trailblazer who built a culinary empire amidst the pandemic to become a viral sensation, New York Times and international bestselling author, and most recently, the visionary behind a line of pasta sauces.
Originally from Rome, Munno hails from a legacy deeply rooted in southern Italian farming, dating back to the late 1700s. Versed in the cultivation of the golden grain, her ancestors produced ample wheat to establish a small pasta factory. Additionally, they supplied flour to one of the largest pasta factories in Gragnano, one of Italy’s pioneering hubs for commercial pasta production. This contribution earned the family the affectionate nickname “Maccheroni.”
Helping on the farm, mastering pasta-making from as early as age 5 and with her family’s name synonymous with the Italian staple, cooking was always a passion for Munno, but it wasn’t something she imagined could become a lifestyle beyond opening a restaurant. Instead, she pursued studies in art, poetry, theatre and communication and eventually co-founded an executive marketing business with her husband. This venture led them to relocate to the United States, where they settled in Florida, a place that resonated most with her tropical Mediterranean upbringing.
Shortly thereafter, Munno’s life and career took a significant turn when her daughter introduced her to TikTok amidst the pandemic’s stay-at-home restrictions. Despite its initial association with dance trends, the social media platform provided Munno with a unique avenue to showcase her culinary expertise and share her recipes with a worldwide audience, all from the comfort of her bustling Clearwater kitchen. Unlike the more complex video-editing techniques often seen on YouTube, TikTok offered Munno a more accessible and immediate way to connect with viewers.
That content emerged from a place of nostalgia and tribute to her late grandfather, whose farming and pasta legacy inspired her. With her recipes, she sought to carry on his tradition of providing exceptional food to the world. Through this endeavor, she crafted “The Pasta Queen,” a persona that Munno, a city girl with a background singing in a rock band, describes as her most feminine, motherly side.
“My general content is for the people, for the working mothers, for the busy business people that that have 1000 things going on,” the mother of four says.
Munno’s recipes, shared with her ever-growing audience of millions, are beloved family classics, ones she prepares for her own friends and family. Ranging from quick weeknight dinners to impressive holiday mains, her creations, as well as culinary tips and tricks, cater to various occasions and tastes.
Since creating The Pasta Queen four years ago, Munno has penned a cookbook, with another set to release in the fall, and more recently, after a year of refinement to capture the freshness and quality of homemade sauces in a shelf-stable form, she entered the retail realm with the release of five jarred pasta sauces with ingredients sourced from Italy – and one cheese from Switzerland – that now grace Walmart shelves.
With her vibrant personality and crave-worthy Italian recipes, it’s easy to see why Munno – The Pasta Queen – has amassed such a following. From bright sauces to perfect porcini risotto, every dish Munno presents to the world is, as she would say, Just Gorgeous.
The Pasta Queen’s Pasta Commandments
- Don’t Salt Pasta after It’s Cooked
Salt your pasta water when it boils upon tossing the pasta in. - Never, Never, Overcook Your Pasta
Munno considers such an act a disgrace to the Italian people. - Don’t Add Olive Oil to Boiling Pasta Water
This is simply a waste of olive oil. - Finish Cooking the Pasta in the Sauce
Not only does this release the starches into the sauce, which makes the sauce bind to the pasta, but it also makes it easier to mix. - Don’t Put Ketchup on Pasta
No further explanation is necessary. - Don’t Toss Away the Starchy Pasta Water
Referred to as “The Tears of the Gods,” this liquid gold will help emulsify the pasta. - Don’t Break the Spaghetti
A lot of love and care went into creating this long, delicate shape so get the right pot. - Don’t Rinse the Pasta
This will get you banned from walking the streets of Italy.
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