Paola Gavin

Welcome! For over thirty years, I have documented the authentic meat-free heritage of the Mediterranean and beyond. In my newest work, The Still Life Cookbook, I invite you to see ingredients through an artist’s eye. Whether you are a long-time reader of my heritage works or a newcomer, I hope these recipes bring beauty and history to your table.

Paola Gavin is a distinguished culinary author and a pioneering authority on traditional vegetarian heritage. For over three decades, she has been dedicated to documenting the authentic, meat-free "cucina casalinga" (homestyle cooking) that has flourished for generations across Europe and the Mediterranean.

Her bibliography serves as a definitive guide to regional plant-based traditions:

• The Still Life Cookbook: Vegetarian Recipes Inspired by Great Paintings: Paola’s latest work explores the connection between art and appetite, using masterpieces as blueprints for vibrant, modern meals.

• Hazana: Jewish Vegetarian Cooking: A journey through 20 countries tracing 2,000 years of Jewish plant-based heritage.

• Mediterranean Vegetarian Cooking: A comprehensive collection featuring over 200 traditional recipes from every country surrounding the Mediterranean.

• Italian Vegetarian Cooking: Originally an in-depth exploration of Italy’s 19 culinary regions.

• French Vegetarian Cooking: A celebration of the seasonal produce of the French provinces.

Follow my Art-to-Table journey on Instagram: @paolagavin