Hi there! I’m Monica, an Italian artisan pasta maker based in Plainfield, Illinois—but born and raised in Italy, more precisely in Modena, Emilia-Romagna, a region famous for some of the best food in the world (yes, I’m biased… but also right 😉).
My love affair with pasta started early—I was just 6 years old when my mom taught me how to make tortellini by hand. From that moment on, flour was always part of my life. Over the years, I deepened my knowledge by attending several culinary classes, focusing on the true art and process of pasta making.
So… how did I get here?
Back in Italy, I worked for many years in the HR field and truly thought that was my path. But life had other plans. In 2016, I moved to the Chicago suburbs and started over—new country, new chapter, new dreams.
That’s when I realized it was finally time to bring to life a project I had always carried in my heart: teaching people how to make pasta from scratch. Why?
First, because my connection to Italy runs deep, and sharing my food is my way of sharing my culture and showing how proud I am to be Italian.
Second, because making pasta—together—simply makes people happy. And honestly, that’s reason enough.
Do I miss Italy? Every single day.
The Pasta Lady is my way of keeping home just a little closer—one sheet of pasta at a time.
The pasta lady 