Imagine my joy when I discovered that today is World Pasta Day!  I didn’t even know such a day existed. It was early morning when I made the discovery and I immediately started planning this evening’s meal: penne with fresh chanterelles sauteed with shallots. The whole dish would then be sprinkled with grated Reggiano cheese and finished with a generous drizzle of liquid gold olive oil from Italy.

I love pasta and cannot imagine a life without.

My mother, a great interpreter of dreams, insisted that if you dreamed about spaghetti, it meant that you were involved in a messy situation, entangled, unable to free yourself.

Who doesn’t take pleasure in gathering long strands of tomato-sauce-drenched spaghetti and twirling it into a bite-sized skein, before devouring it? Mom, I’ll take the entanglements and free myself later.  First, allow me to indulge in the heaping plate before me.

Pistachio Pesto Pasta

Spaghetti, lasagna, rigatoni, penne…

Lasagna

Pasta is more than food.
Pasta is comfort.
Pasta is tradition.

Zia Maria and Zia Tanina’s homemade cavatti

Pasta is love.

Pasta with fresh ricotta cheese

Eating pasta carries memories of Sunday dinners with mom and dad, my sisters, my aunties and their families. Pasta is meant to be eaten at a great big table covered by several table cloths sewn together, a table creaking under the weight of delectable dishes made by loving hands. Pasta is accompanied by laughter and loud conversations, everyone talking over each other.
Eating pasta is chaos and love bundled together.

This is how I grew up: my family Sunday dinners. (Francy in the red dress)

Pasta is an integral part of life. Pasta is a part of my culture. Pasta brings family and friends together.

My Zia Lila serves up pasta to her family and friends

I think you will get a kick out of Shel Silverstein’s poem below. I enjoy reading this at retreats in Italy!

Italian Food by Shel Silverstein

Oh, how I love Italian food.
I eat it all the time,
Not just ’cause how good it tastes
But ’cause how good it rhymes.
Minestrone, cannelloni,
Macaroni, rigatoni,
Spaghettini, scallopini,
Escarole, braciole,
Insalata, cremolata, manicotti,
Marinara, carbonara,
Shrimp francese, Bolognese,
Ravioli, mostaccioli,
Mozzarella, tagliatelle,
Fried zucchini, rollatini,
Fettuccine, green linguine,
Tortellini, Tetrazzini,
Oops–I think I split my jeani.