Marc Vetri to Showcase The Pasta Book at Austin Tastemaker March 18

Marc Vetri, the James Beard Award winning chef-restaurateur based in Philadelphia, heads to Austin on March 18 to spotlight his new cookbook The Pasta Book as part of CultureMap Austin’s 2026 Tastemaker Awards programming announced Feb. 24. CultureMap lists the series lineup beginning Feb. 26 with Rick Lopez of La Condesa and notes that Grammy-winning Austin musician Adrian Quesada will "head to the kitchen" in April.

CultureMap’s announcement places Vetri among a spring slate of visiting chefs but does not list venues or ticketing for the Tastemaker appearances. Separately, Austin’s L’Oca d’Oro is launching the third season of its Pasta Paisanos benefit dinners on Feb. 26, and that event also names Rick Lopez as the guest; tickets for the L’Oca d’Oro Feb. 26 dinner are listed at $80. It is not specified whether the Feb. 26 Rick Lopez appearance cited by CultureMap and the L’Oca d’Oro Pasta Paisanos dinner are the same engagement.

L’Oca d’Oro co-owner Fiore Tedesco is central to the Austin programming push: Adam Orman and Tedesco are listed as the Pasta Paisanos hosts, and Tedesco framed the series as a mix of handmade pasta and fundraising for displaced immigrants. Tedesco said, "His dedication to the craft of pasta-making and his contributions to the Italian American diaspora have been deeply meaningful and guiding me to my path as a chef," and added that "This collaboration with 'creative people [he] admires deeply' is what he is most excited about in this series." Tedesco also noted, "Rick Lopez has been a friend since we met working together 15 years ago."

The Pasta Book itself is presented as a practical playbook for home cooks and pros alike: listings for the book cite more than 75 recipes, QR codes linking to step-by-step technique videos, and a chapter on doughs and shapes that includes pappardelle and orecchiette. One event listing highlights "With 90 stunning photographs" and says the book "includes ideas to level up or simplify every recipe." David Joachim is credited as Vetri’s longtime cookbook collaborator; Bookpeople notes The Pasta Book is the sixth cookbook Joachim has worked on with Vetri and their second on pasta.

Vetri’s spring appearances around the book include a Jan. 18 Los Angeles conversation at Now Serving, 727 North Broadway, where Vetri spoke with Chris Bianco and followed the talk with a book signing; the Now Serving event page listed tickets from USD 13.59 to USD 45.09. Vetri also lists a March 12 class at Vetricucina priced at $375 that includes wine, gratuity, and a signed copy of The Pasta Book and is limited to 10 guests; Vetricucina’s event page states "Food allergies and dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated for this event," that "Tickets are non-refundable," and that "Class will be in session rain, snow, or shine." Tratto’s Instagram adds that the restaurant is "excited to host Author and Chef Marc Vetri as he celebrates his latest cookbook, The Pasta Book, with his friend Chef Chris Bianco."

Whether Vetri stages a public cooking demo, a moderated conversation, or a ticketed class in Austin on March 18, his appearance joins a national run of book talks, classes, and benefit dinners that track a renewed appetite for chef-led pasta programming this spring. CultureMap notes "Additional chefs and dates for this spring will be announced soon.