Big Pasta Podcast
Welcome to The Big Pasta Podcast, or Tessa and Nora try to have their Lady and the Tramp moment, over zoom and across boroughs. This is a podcast about two friends trying to connect with life through one of their deepest loves, pasta. It’s about digging into our passions, talking to our buddies about food and what’s feeding us, and what we’re hungry for. Come eat with us! Music by Ian McNally // Art by Jane Zisman // IG: @bigpastapodcast
Episodes
31 episodes
Grandmas are Chefs
Welcome back, Nora and Tessa. Where the hell have you been? In this episode, we tell you alllll about it. We celebrate Enoteca Maria, and we interview our beloved grandmas. All hail Strega Nonna! Bon Appetit!
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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1:18:02
Episode 30: Choose Bubbles
ACTUALLY ITS EPISODE 30! Can you even believe it? Pop the champagne…and we do, with our amazing guest Alison Haas, who in our mind is in charge of wine for the whole world. In our first non-recipe ep, we explore luxury. Also discussed: pairings...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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49:21
Episode 29: Achoo Achoo
Nora and Tessa were joined by an old friend today! Namely the one and only Nia Ashley, filmmaker and writer extraordinaire. And we made RISOTTO!!!! A leap, but a delicious one. Also discussed: Mean Girls! Lorde! Travel! Bon appétit!
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:02:14
Episode 28: Big Night, Big Pasta
This one’s for the man with the biggest pasta energy…our love, our guiding light, our chef…Stanley Tucci. No, he’s not a guest (yet). This is a classic Nora and Tessa gab fest, with topics including Big Night, Lentils, and as usual, following p...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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49:21
Episode 27: Metaphorical Dad
There were a lot of possible titles for this ep, where Nora and Tessa (now on matching sweaters) are joined by the talented, generous filmmaker and foodie, Kevin Yu. On the table: Zha Jiang Mian (Beijing Fried Sauce Noodles), connections betwee...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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58:33
Episode 26: The Ropiest Pasta for Freaks
In this jam-packed episode, Nora and Tessa are joined in their chairs by Nora’s friend Julian Plovnick, a brilliant foodie, to discuss walnut pasta, Top Chef, and the culinary industry as a whole! Also discussed: lies! Dreams! And the topic of ...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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1:03:21
Episode 25: Call it a Comeback Kugel
Hello out there! After a vaguely defined break…we’re back! Talking comebacks and glow ups and ratatouille. Also this week, Nora and Tessa make kugel (FINALLY) and interview their wonderful collaborator Olivia Zisman, about art and food an...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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53:13
Episode 24: Cascatelli, Finally
Call this one our mid season finale, cuz we’re on hiatus until Jan! This week, Nora and Tessa are talking Dan Pashman’s Cascatelli. They get into their various sauces, as well as sauceability and timing. It’s all very technical, isn’t it? Also ...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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35:59
Episode 23: The Weird, Dry Smallness of Couscous
In this episode, Nora and Tessa and Nat delve into Nora’s famed dish: pasta and peas and soy sauce and cheese! They discuss shame and comfort, and Instagram therapists. Also covered: pre school! Arugula! Maybe we hear from some other friends to...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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1:13:32
Episode 22: Beans Are Us
What’s that old saying? “Gorgeous gorgeous girls love soup?” Then call us Miss America because this week Nora and Tessa are talking Pasta e Fagiole. Nora also forces Tessa to define herself with a quiz, they enjoy their mutual love of Abba and ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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40:59
Episode 21: THE TOP 20 MOMENTS OF SPAGHETTI
In honor of pasta month; here’s the episode you’ve ALL been waiting for. Nora, Tessa and a special guest get comfy and talk everything spaghetti. They rank the top 20 moments of spaghetti in culture and EVERYONE learns something. Also discussed...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:00:46
Episode 20: Ravioli All Over Again!
WELCOME TO PASTA MONTH! In this episode, Tessa and Nora talk harvesting. They celebrate the bounty of the earth that is pasta, and also dip into an essential topic: sports. Questions come up, arguments are had, and ultimately? They talk ravioli...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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43:40
Episode 19: A Whole Dish w/ Sistersnacking!
In this episode, Nora and Tessa interview the awesome Sisters Snacking (@sistersnacking). They talk siblings, NYC’s best noodle spots, and most importantly discuss a true queen of the sauce world: vodka sauce. Other topics include: Cheaper By t...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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56:09
Episode 18: Truffle Oil: Gutsy, Brave and Stupid!
This week, Nora and Tessa talked about getting through. Eating pasta in a rainstorm, how to love being in the kitchen in a strange time. They talked tankinis, and most importantly they talked mushroom pasta! Also covered: the devil’s pasta! Coo...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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37:28
Episode 17: In the Sauce w/ The Pasta Magazine
PUT YOUR LIFE JACKETS ON, WE’RE GETTING ON THE PASTA BOAT! In this episode, Nora and Tessa interview the wonderful Rossella, founder of The Pasta Magazine. They talk pasta advice, starting a new business, and the soul of garlic. Other topics in...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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52:49
Episode 16: Greetings from Camp Pasta!
WELCOME TO SEASON 2! In this episode, Nora and Tessa finally experience the JOY of recording together, and in a cabin in Vermont no less! They celebrate the beginning of a new season, explore their favorite pastas, and discuss a Barlow family c...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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32:23
Episode 15: Season 1 Finale: Pasta By The River
In this season 1 finale, Tessa and Nora take a trip (a real one!) to Beacon NY in search of the elusive pasta salad. Why Beacon, you ask? Who knows. They describe their journey, they talk Mayo, they talk this season and what they’ve learned/lov...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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38:45
Episode 14: Annie’s Mac and Cheese
This week, Nora and Tessa take a deep dive into their own hearts — and the heart of the nation — with an episode dedicated to Annie’s Mac and Cheese. They talk all about the surprise drama and history of the iconic dish, and get into some *alte...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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40:29
Episode 13: Puttanesca- A Homecoming
This week, Nora and Tessa find themselves. They also find themselves discussing Puttanesca, a surprising and delicious dish that has *maybe* changed the game for them. They talk food literature, the “emotionality of the mundane,” and wedding ba...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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38:53
Episode 12: Cacio e Pepe, Baby!
This week, Nora and Tessa are absolutely BUZZING about one of their favorite dishes to date: Cacio e Pepe! They get into the pasta’s history and a little into Italy’s history as well; they talk spaghetti, they talk pecorino. Other topics includ...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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45:38
Episode 11: Magic Mike 4: Spaghetti Pomodoro
This week, Tessa and Nora get elemental and talk about one of the simplest, sweetest dishes in the history of pasta: Spaghetti Pomodoro. Other topics include: late night snacks! STEM! Audrey Hepburn! Bon Appétit!
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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44:43
Episode 10: CinéMangé
This week, Tessa and Nora talk magic. MOVIE MAGIC, that is! They go through some of their favorite movie/food moments, and then discuss the not-so-simple but oh-so-beautiful Aglio e Olio. Other topics include: Being haunted! Elbow Pasta! School...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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46:38
Episode 9: Pasta Hosts The Oscars
This week, Tessa and Nora catch each other off guard. They talk pillow-foods, German TV, and of course — ravioli! Oh yeah, and The Oscars! Bon Appétit!
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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43:16