“In food there are memories”
Paola Bacchia
my parents migrated to melbourne, australia from north east italy in the 1950s.
they showed me how food and shared meals tell the story of their lives, of their values, and of the places that made them who they are.
Through recipes, photos, in my cookbooks and cooking classes I tell the story of my family and of our food culture, the way our food is grown, prepared and then eaten at a shared table.
my cookbooks
AT NONNA’S TABLE
$45
ISTRIA
$55
ADRIATICO
$50
ITALIAN STREET FOOD
$50
Ciao,
I’m Paola
Though I generally get called Paula, and my family is Italian.
My love of Italy and its food is part of the journey I am taking to embrace the growing, making and sharing of food through the culture that my parents gave me.
I would love for you to be inspired to explore your own memories of food and family; I hope you enjoy reading my stories, looking at my photos and cooking the simple Italian food that I love.
cooking classes, tours & workshops
I love sharing my family recipes and cooking with a group of people. I run hands-on cooking classes in my warehouse home in North Fitzroy and online, as well as workshops in collaboration with other food writers.
Follow me on socials
“Istria is testament to the idea that recipes are so much more than instructions, that they are accumulated layers of stories and histories, both personal and collective, brought to life every time a dish is made. An exquisite book.”
- Rachel Roddy, The Guardian
