NOTE: This is an online-only event hosted by the Library Speakers Consortium. Please go here to finalize your registration: https://libraryc.org/detroitpubliclibrary/209339/register

It’s time to ditch the same boring recipes and bring big, playful creativity back into your kitchen! Join us for an online conversation with Top Chef finalist and Food Network star Joe Sasto as we explore his hit national bestselling cookbook, Breaking the Rules: A Fresh Take on Italian Classics.

Whether you are a novice cook looking to build your kitchen confidence or an experienced chef eager to expand your culinary repertoire, Joe’s approachable philosophy will change how you view everyday ingredients. We will dive deep into his vibrant world of handcrafted pasta, step-by-step rolling techniques, and unexpected flavor profiles.

From foundational family favorites like his mom’s red sauce to daring, crave-worthy creations like Corn Cacio e Pepe, Marinated Tomato “Amatriciana,” and Pesto Pinwheel Pull-Apart Bread, this conversation is an open invitation to trust your culinary instincts and cook with absolute freedom.

Register today and learn how to make cooking fun again!

About the Author:

Celebrity chef Joe Sasto found his love for cooking and appetite for Italian classics as a child at his mother's side. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, he pivoted his career by teaching virtual pasta-making classes.

With more than half a billion likes and countless viral social media videos, Sasto has become a recurring judge and chef personality across multiple shows on the Food Network. He's also competed and appeared on Food Network shows such as Guy Fieri's Tournament of Champions, Guy's Grocery Games, and Chopped, as well as Bravo's Top Chef and Top Chef All-stars.

In 2022, Sasto made the Food Network's first-ever "Hot List." Aside from his career as a chef, Sasto has developed a high-end customizable pasta and pizza tool line, and he is the creator of Tantos, the first puffed pasta chip, and a gourmet frozen ravioli brand, Ripi. His first cookbook, Breaking the Rules – a fresh take on Italian classics, was published in October 2025. He lives in Chicago and enjoys spending time with his pup, Tito, and his wife, Kait.

NOTE: This is an online-only event hosted by the Library Speakers Consortium. Please go here to finalize your registration: https://libraryc.org/detroitpubliclibrary/209339/register

Questions? Email msummers@detroitpubliclibrary.org for help!