Saturday is World Pasta Day. October 25th is the founding date for the International Pasta Organization, a group “dedicated to increase(d) pasta consumption and awareness.” This year the group is meeting in Turkey to discuss how pasta can play a role in children’s health around the world.
That’s pretty heavy for a food most U.S. kids love in the form of spaghetti and meatballs. I’ve come a long way from my early days of preferring the stuff out of the can to the homemade version my mother prepared. Now that I look back on it that’s pretty insulting, but hey what do you expect from kids? LOL
Anywho, now my tastes have matured to the point where I can appreciate pasta in lots of different ways. One of my favorite ways is in Italian cuisine. I love a good Alfredo sauce and there’s nothing better than crusty bread dipped in a good olive oil seasoned with herbs and a little freshly-grated Parmigiano-Reggiano. I have to be careful to save room for the meal.
Now, one of my favorite places to enjoy pasta is on The Hill in St. Louis. Many Italian imigrants settled in the neighborhood during the 1800s and the neighborhood retains much of that flavor today. Restaurants, houses, bakeries and markets sit side-by-side. Famous St. Louis baseball players Joe Garagiola and Yogi Berra are both from the neighborhood.
But it's the food that I love. It was in a restaurant on The Hill where I first experienced bread and olive oil. I'm hooked now. Oprah featured one of the restaurants on her show. Giovanni's on the Hill named a dish for her, Pappardelle alla Bella Oprah. It's one of the most popular on the menu.
So start planning to eat some pasta on Saturday. I am. I'm sure we'll all enjoy it.
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