--- Watch Memory Bites on SBS Food (Ch. 33) on Mondays, 7:30pm from March 10, 2025, and stream all episodes anytime at SBS On Demand ---
Pia Miranda likes to look after her loved ones with food – something she learned from her mum and grandmothers. "If my husband had a bad day or my kids are upset, I like to make them something that will make them happy," Miranda says. "That's what I was taught to do."
Pia Miranda (second right) with her sister, mum and nonna in Italy. Source: Pia Miranda
Nan and nonna
Miranda has long cherished her two grandmothers' cooking. "With my nan, her food was very comforting and repetitive, which I loved. Like, I'd get sliced apples with the skin peeled off every day and I would get the same soup once a week."
Her nan's kitchen smelled like cakes, roast or the lamb-shank vegetable soup she loved making.
In Memory Bites with Matt Moran, she goes down memory lane reminiscing about her nonna's food, especially the pasta e fagioli, which the chef recreates for her to enjoy over a freewheeling chat. In the episode, they also enjoy Spicchiteddi and Sicilian stuffed artichokes.
Her kitchen smelled of spices and that incredible Italian smell that you can't quite put your finger on...it's like the smell of garlic and tomato on the walls.
"With my nonna, I cooked a lot with her. If I spent the weekend with her, I'd wake up in the morning and she would give me Vegemite toast, fresh ricotta with a sprinkling of sugar and tea.
"Her kitchen smelled of spices and that incredible Italian smell that you can't quite put your finger on what it is. It's like the smell of garlic and tomato on the walls, you know?"
Nonna's pasta is a must have. Source: Pia Miranda
Dessert time
Miranda doesn't have the biggest sweet tooth, but she loves her mum's desserts.
"My mum used to – and still makes – these golden syrup dumplings. Those I can't say no to. She cooks them in a pan, and the bottom of the pan caramelises – just incredible," she says.
"She would also always make me a hummingbird cake for my birthday with a lot of cream-cheese icing."
Her Italian nonna and Australian nan also made irresistible desserts.
"My nonna used to cook so much. She made these amazing gingerbreads," Miranda says. "But it's funny, because I found her recipe, and the gingerbreads don't actually have any ginger in them. It's mostly lemon and orange zest."
Her nan made desserts with lemons too, like lemon delicious and lemon meringue pie. Miranda also enjoyed her nan's chocolate hedgehogs. "And when I was younger, I remember she would make me Milo and ice-cream before putting me to bed. I do that with my kids now as well."
Something great out of nothing
Miranda doesn't have as much time as her grandmothers to cook, but she still tries to get in an afternoon of slow cooking on Sundays.
"I think my specialty is always going to be slow-cooked Italian food. So, when I have the time to do it, I'll put in the time to make an amazing spaghetti sauce. And by the way, it kills me – my daughter doesn't like red sauce. Everyone gets a beautiful sauce and she'll get a jar of pesto!"
"But I do pride myself in being resourceful, in being able to make something great out of nothing. I learned that from my grandmothers."
MORE COOKING FROM MUMS AND GRANDMAS
The Great Depression-proof trifle of my great-grandma Polly
