I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti: A Memoir of Good Food and Bad Boyfriends

by Giulia Melucci

Book Overview

From failure to fusilli, this deliciously hilarious read tells the story of Giulia Melucci's fizzled romances and the mouth-watering recipes she used to seduce her men, smooth over the lumps, and console herself when the relationships flamed out.

From an affectionate alcoholic, to the classic New York City commitment-phobe, to a hipster aged past his sell date, and not one, but two novelists with Peter Pan complexes, Giulia has cooked...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446534412
• ISBN13: 9780446534413
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

I Loved Her Tale

After hearing a little about this book, I expected to be exasperated with the writer and her poor choices in men. But Giulia Melucci writes so engagingly, with such honesty and humor, that she came across as a person I would genuinely like. The men were, in fact, poor choices but that didn't detract from how she comes across as a sympathetic character, how good the recipes sound, and how thoroughly entertaining a read this book is.

Love and food, enduring themes for women

In this lighthearted account of romantic disasters and mouth-watering meals, Giulia Melucci's warm, funny prose will touch your heart. Most of the recipes are Mediterranean-healthy, satisfying both palate and conscience. Giulia is the kind of friend every woman loves to have. Although unlucky in love, she is blessed with brains and pluck. It's been my observation, as a baby-boomer wife and mother of four (three daughters),that luck looms large in a woman's life. Melucci's search for love evoked in me a motherly instinct to offer comfort. Constant self-examination and self-blame lead nowhere, in the current demographic which can be cruel to women's goals. What is necessary is to meet a man at the time in his life when he is ready to commit. Timing is everything, in love as in many other matters. I'll make spaghetti and raise a glass of red wine to you, Giulia, in a toast to your quest for a happy ending!

Food, Fun, and Broken Relationships

This book was just what I expected ... a playful, humorous look at life in New York City (food, men and career ... what else is there?). For someone like me, an ordinary, Midwestern, middle-age wife and mother, this was an amazing journey into the literary life and escapades of someone in a far different place than where I am. That said I can also admit that I've done my share of cooking my way into a man's heart (both in my single days and later as a wife). Like Giulia Melucci, fine food and romance are what I love most. Rather than judge her as did several other reviewers, I enjoyed her boyfriend tales dotted with recipes like treasure hidden in the forest. Most cookbooks follow the same boring format ... introductory chapter, recipe, recipe, recipe. If you're looking for a cookbook, this isn't it. This is a tale of love, found and lost, intermingled with easy-to-make fabulous, mostly Mediterranean recipes. For a light-hearted read and a look into a life perhaps very different from your own, this book's the one. Buy it, love it, and share it!

Carrie Bradshaw Mixed with Carmela Soprano

Do Not Read This Book On An Empty Stomach! Now that I have that warning out of the way I will proceed with my review of "I Loved I Lost Made Spaghetti:" I loved it! On one level Melucci's tome is an insightful memoir of her romantic entanglements. On another level it is a philosophy of cooking book. In short, it is what you would have if you combined Carrie Bradshaw with Carmela Soprano. Melucci is a successful, Brooklyn, singleton who is looking for her other half. In wooing her suitors Melucci is a devotee of the "way to a man's heart is through his stomach" school. Thus, whenever she meets her next potential Mr. Right she serves up exquisite meals such as: Risotto with Intricately Layered Hearts; Salmon with Lemon-Tarragon Butter; Linguine with Friendly Little Fish, Orzo Salad with Feta, and French Lentil Stew. Unfortunately, for Melucci, her 5 star efforts in the kitchen are enjoyed by: 1) an alcoholic; 2) a commitmentphobe; 3) an aging hipster; 4) a geriatric lunatic; and 5) a user. Melucci, however, does not lay all of the blame at her boyfriends' feet. Rather she admits that "I had a remarkable ability for turning any picture into the picture I wanted to see: me with a husband. My imagination had the flexibility of a thirteen year-old Chinese gymnast." She also confesses that "maybe I'm not as ready as I think I am." Still I couldn't help but think when reading about actions, in say, dropping everything to rendezvous with a new suitor that she might have won him if she hadn't repeatedly violated The Rules. If you are not familiar with this dating bible it preaches that women must "play hard to get" to bag her man. Ironically, Melucci states that she did have a coaching session from one of The Rules authors, but failed to adhere to the advice. Yes, this philosophy is dated, and sexist, but personally I believe it works. Tellingly, Melucci notes that several of her boyfriends later married other women. "I Loved, I Lost" is also a terrific cookbook. Melucci's philosophy of cooking is surprisingly straightforward and attainable: "the only true essentials . . . are fine ingredients and a sense of how to use them." Hence, the recipes are simple and sound tasty. I have even made a few (Linguine with Friendly with Fishes and a Baby Arugula with Avocado Salad). She also adds thoughtful flourishes to her meals like serving hot meals in warm bowls. This is a nice touch and one that I rarely think to do. Lastly, I especially love her commitment to making enjoyable meals even if she's "only" cooking for one. As she muses, "though I much prefer cooking for two to cooking for one, if one is all I have, I cook for her." Buon Appetito!

Chick lit meets Food

I'm normally not a fan of memoirs or even most non fiction. Unless I have to read a book for school, you can usually find me with a fiction book in my hands. However, this book was totally able to capture my attention and may have made a convert out of me. Reading it was like reading about my own life. It made me laugh, cry, cringe, and be hungry all at the same time. Giulia's writing makes you feel like you're sitting at the table after dinner with a glass of wine and catching up on old stories. As Giulia goes through each relationship, my heart ached for her and I really felt like I was there and needed to console her. There are times when you want to be like "No! He's a jerk, get away!!" and others where you're in love with the guy too because he's so sweet and kind. There are some scenes where I just burst out laughing at how Giulia attempts to win the guy over because it was exactly how I used to act. They're so reminiscent of my life that it's almost painful to read. The highlight of the book is all the food that is mentioned. The recipes are interwoven into each relationship as Giulia talks about the different meals and dishes she would make for each guy. Never one to eat a same meal twice, Giula takes pride in the way she cooks and each dish has a special meaning. The food mentioned in here are to die for. They are simple to make, with easy ingredients that aren't hard to find, yet they are a step above the norm. You can make them for a dinner party and will totally impress your guests. The titles of the dishes range from normal (Grilled Marinated Flank Steak) to fancy (Linguine with Friendly Little Fish) to hilarious (Spaghetti and Meatballs for Cooking Sluts and Those Who Love Them). They all sound delicious and I'm eager to try out a few of these in the future. This really was an enjoyable book to read. It's perfect for both chick lit and foodie fans. It's a charming, relatable and mouth watering read. Do not read this book on an empty stomach and be prepared to whip up a feast when you are done reading. HIGHLY recommended.