How a Simple Moment in the Kitchen Became the heart of She’s Italian
→ The True Story Behind ‘Pasta Stop & Water Go!’
My summers at Nonna’s house
When I was a little girl, summer meant two magical weeks at Nonna’s house. It was where the entire family gathered—holidays, birthdays, weekend visits, or just because. Her home was the heart of our family, and every visit was filled with warmth, food, and life lessons passed down the Italian way.
Life lessons from Nonna
Nonna taught me the little things that mattered most.
- How to make the bed just right with the bambolina (baby doll) on top
- How to crochet and mend things (and count, uno, due, tre...)
- How to hang laundry outside on the line, and water the flowers
- and, of course, making every day food from scratch: pasta, bread, cookies, sauce, etc.
Each morning started with “coffee,” and toast, which for us was warm milk, a little sugar, and a splash of espresso—Nonna’s way of letting us feel a little grown-up. She always cut the toast into “fingers,” strips so that we could dunk them into our coffee. (I still slice my toast this way today and always will). We watered the garden together and went on daily walks (fare camminare) to chat, laugh, and breathe in the day. On very special days we walked all the way to “MicaDonald’s”, because lets be honest, Nonna enjoyed a cheap burger and she didn’t drive or have her license so we walked there and back, lol.
How a Simple Moment in the Kitchen Became the heart of She’s Italian
→ The True Story Behind ‘Pasta Stop & Water Go!’
My summers at Nonna’s house
When I was a little girl, summer meant two magical weeks at Nonna’s house. It was where the entire family gathered—holidays, birthdays, weekend visits, or just because. Her home was the heart of our family, and every visit was filled with warmth, food, and life lessons passed down the Italian way.
Life lessons from Nonna
Nonna taught me the little things that mattered most.
- How to make the bed just right with the bambolina (baby doll) on top
- How to crochet and mend things (and count, uno, due, tre...)
- How to hang laundry outside on the line, and water the flowers
- and, of course, making every day food from scratch: pasta, bread, cookies, sauce, etc.
Each morning started with “coffee,” and toast, which for us was warm milk, a little sugar, and a splash of espresso—Nonna’s way of letting us feel a little grown-up. She always cut the toast into “fingers,” strips so that we could dunk them into our coffee. (I still slice my toast this way today and always will). We watered the garden together and went on daily walks (fare camminare) to chat, laugh, and breathe in the day. On very special days we walked all the way to “MicaDonald’s”, because lets be honest, Nonna enjoyed a cheap burger and she didn’t drive or have her license so we walked there and back, lol.
Deep immigrant roots, family, memories and big dreams
My grandparents came to Canada from Italy, not speaking the language—but they learned it, one word at a time. My Nonno worked hard—first at Toronto Brick and later for the TTC. He loved Toronto. He loved his family even more. My dad and uncles were just kids when they arrived, navigating a new country, a new language, and a new life with resilience and heart.
Where “Pasta Stop & Water Go!” actually came from
One evening, while helping Nonna in the kitchen, she asked me to pass her “the thing.” She couldn’t remember what it was called in English. With a classic Nonna hand gesture and a sparkle in her eye, she said:
“You know…the pasta stop and water go!”
It took me a second—but then I got it. She meant the colander. We laughed so hard, and from that day forward, our whole family called it that. Pasta Stop & Water Go became part of our family vocabulary—and a symbol of the magic that happens when cultures collide with love, laughter, and a little bit of pasta water.
That one phrase is more than a memory—it’s a tribute
I created ShesItalian.com with Nonna’s spirit right beside me. She’s the heart of this blog, the reason I started cooking, and the soul behind every post I share.
I’m not a professional chef or baker. I’m just a girl who loves food, family, and sharing stories. I’ve been posting meals online for over 13 years—mostly for funzies—but now I’m inviting you into my cucina. Not just to cook Italian food the Italan way but to come together and embrace cultural diversity and best health together.
Thank you for being here…
To every single one of you who’s followed along, liked a post, dropped a comment, slid into my DMs for a recipe, or just showed a little love—thank you. Truly. You’ve helped bring this little passion prject to life.
So grab a plate, pull up a chair, and join me in keeping the tradition alive.
Let’s remember to “Pasta Stop & Water Go!”, have fun with food and make memories cooking.
❤︎ Maria Arangio
Founder of She’s Italian + Pasta Stop & Water Go
