Mangia by Pia

It's Not All About the Food

If You Came for the Recipe,

I Hope You’ll Stay for the Narrative.

Cooking is an art form that provides an outlet for creative expression. Like visual arts, it requires skill and imagination and evokes memories. Don’t get me wrong. When I hear an involuntary ‘Mmmmhhumm’ someone makes after taking the first bite of something I’ve prepared, it makes me smile. But don’t be fooled, culinary arts isn’t just about the food.

When I began hosting dinner parties, I noticed gatherings were an opportunity for friends, co-workers, and families to strengthen bonds, share stories, relax, and support each other. Mangia by Pia: It’s Not about the Food is a collection of memories associated with recipes. Because what you taste isn’t just on your taste buds. It is where you are, who you are with, or what you are seeing when you “taste the best dish of your life.” Certain foods bring back special memories of your childhood, remind you of a fantastic vacation, and help you remember the people who have impacted your life.

For years, I wanted to do a project that commerated the recipes and meals I shared with friends and family. Having difficulty moving the idea forward, I joined Riverside Project 52, a program formed to inspire and motivate local artists. It offered a roadmap focused on accountability, stressed consistency, and provided a place where artists could share their work and receive support. The group was mostly visual artists. I didn’t know if my concept fit the program, but I did know I needed the push to move forward.

Project 52 structure and organization played a big role in getting me to where I am. I was guilty of collecting recipes in the most haphazard fashion possible; I scribbled them on the backs of envelopes, receipts, and scraps of paper. They were tucked away in drawers, making them impossible to find. Writing is hard, and conveying feeling seemed impossible. The biggest roadblock was my own insecurities with writing, and I couldn’t imagine a world where I would publicly share something I wrote.

I am grateful to Project 52 for helping me organize and format the recipes you see. To all the testers who helped ensure that directions and measurements were accurate, and to the many people who encouraged me to share my stories. Maybe you came for the recipes, but I hope you will stay for the narratives. In doing this project I learned that agonizing over the perfectly made meal and chasing the praise for a delicious dish wasn’t the primary reason for becoming a good cook. It is because gathering the people we care about is essential to a meaningful life.
If You Came for the Recipe,

I Hope You’ll Stay for the Narrative.

Cooking is an art form that provides an outlet for creative expression. Like visual arts, it requires skill and imagination and evokes memories. Don’t get me wrong. When I hear an involuntary ‘Mmmmhhumm’ someone makes after taking the first bite of something I’ve prepared, it makes me smile. But don’t be fooled, culinary arts isn’t just about the food.

When I began hosting dinner parties, I noticed gatherings were an opportunity for friends, co-workers, and families to strengthen bonds, share stories, relax, and support each other. Mangia by Pia: It’s Not about the Food is a collection of memories associated with recipes. Because what you taste isn’t just on your taste buds. It is where you are, who you are with, or what you are seeing when you “taste the best dish of your life.” Certain foods bring back special memories of your childhood, remind you of a fantastic vacation, and help you remember the people who have impacted your life.

For years, I wanted to do a project that commerated the recipes and meals I shared with friends and family. Having difficulty moving the idea forward, I joined Riverside Project 52, a program formed to inspire and motivate local artists. It offered a roadmap focused on accountability, stressed consistency, and provided a place where artists could share their work and receive support. The group was mostly visual artists. I didn’t know if my concept fit the program, but I did know I needed the push to move forward.

Project 52 structure and organization played a big role in getting me to where I am. I was guilty of collecting recipes in the most haphazard fashion possible; I scribbled them on the backs of envelopes, receipts, and scraps of paper. They were tucked away in drawers, making them impossible to find. Writing is hard, and conveying feeling seemed impossible. The biggest roadblock was my own insecurities with writing, and I couldn’t imagine a world where I would publicly share something I wrote.

I am grateful to Project 52 for helping me organize and format the recipes you see. To all the testers who helped ensure that directions and measurements were accurate, and to the many people who encouraged me to share my stories. Maybe you came for the recipes, but I hope you will stay for the narratives. In doing this project I learned that agonizing over the perfectly made meal and chasing the praise for a delicious dish wasn’t the primary reason for becoming a good cook. It is because gathering the people we care about is essential to a meaningful life.