The beauty of pasta is that it's the definition of a blank canvas: you can add just about anything to it, and it'll turn out great. The biggest lesson I learned from Giovanni Rana is that, in his words, "The kitchen is the land of freedom. Everything can happen. It's pure imagination." And it's true! You shouldn't take Italian cooking too seriously and be afraid to experiment with your own personality. The dish pictured here is prosciutto tortellini with sauteed shrimp, cherry tomatoes, capers, lemon, and thyme. If you prefer basil, switch it up. Scallops instead of shrimp? Just as delicious. No tomatoes? No problem. Once you start getting creative with pasta toppings, you'll never get bored of the same routine.
Travel and expenses for the author and photographer were provided by Giovanni Rana for the purpose of writing this story.
