The highlights from the most recent Italian food magazines and blogs include: (i) the Golden Size of Italian noodles; (ii) the upcoming Tiramisù World Cup; (iii) the Parmesan Espresso Martini; (iv) the potential future of 3D-printed pasta; and last-but-not-least, (v) a curated list of 25 classic but lesser-known pasta dishes. Join us as we explore these delicious topics and savor the flavors of Italy.

Noodles’ Golden Size

Sale & Pepe magazine brings our attention to the Italian Cooking Academy and its mission to establish the defining characteristics of Italian cuisine. In 1972, the Bologna delegation notarized an act stating that 8 mm (7 mm when uncooked) is the ideal width for noodles. To honor this golden measurement, a specimen-model of the perfect noodle has been created and is displayed at Palazzo della Mercanzia in Bologna. The esteemed Romagna Noodle Fraternity agrees with the Italian Cooking Academy about the measurement. The pasta fraternity, comprising 33 noodle experts based in the Romagna region, conducts monthly restaurant visits to evaluate and declare a winner for the best noodles of the year. It is a challenging but crucial task entrusted to these experts, ensuring the excellence of Italian noodles…

Tiramisù World Cup:

Excitement builds as the 7th edition of the Tiramisù World Cup is announced, set to take place in October 2023. This thrilling competition is open to non-professional participants, who will vie for top honors in two categories: (1) the most original tiramisù recipe and (2) the most creative presentation. The original recipe category allows the use of six basic ingredients – ladyfingers, mascarpone cheese, egg yolks, coffee, cocoa powder, and sugar. Meanwhile, the creative recipe category offers more flexibility, incorporating additional ingredients and variations while retaining the essence of the classic tiramisù. Stay tuned for updates on the winners of this highly anticipated event.

Parmesan Espresso Martini:

The 1980s Espresso Martini cocktail – also named “Espresso Vodka Martini” and listed among the “New Era Drinks” according to IBA – has a new lease of life. Why? Thanks to the addition of grated Parmesan cheese to the classic ingredients of vodka, espresso coffee, and sugar syrup (some recipes include Kahlúa, Tia Maria, or another coffee liquor). First appearing in 2020, according to Dissapore the Parmesan Espresso Martini was more popular in 2022 than the Manhattan (Cajelli, 2023), with 400 million visualizations on Tik Tok and 1.3 million visualizations on Instagram on Scott Dudgale’s post. While the pairing of coffee and cheese is not new – think tiramisù or the Finnish “Kaffeost” – what about the texture of the grated Parmesan floating in the liquid? Some restaurant entrepreneurs are already working on it, and they have created a vodka liquor infused with Parmesan cheese. As an alternative, according to experts, what really makes the difference is the quality of the cheese (higher is better, obviously). When in doubt, consider the BYO policy and ask to bring your own cheese (Hagopian, 2023).

Pasta 3D: A Glimpse into the Future:

What is more mouth-watering than a dish of rigatoni, pipe, or ziti with small chunks of tomato, vegetables, or beans from the sauce trapped inside each piece of pasta? 3D pasta has the answer –intricate finger-food shapes, resembling nests, seashells, cubes, and other objects, optimally designed to create flavor bombs in every bite. With Italy’s substantial per capita pasta consumption of 23 kg per year, the potential for 3D pasta to carve a niche in the market is worth exploring. Could this innovative approach to pasta become a culinary sensation?

25 Classic Yet Unfamiliar Pasta Dishes:

Indulge in Cucchiao.it’s curated list of 25 regional pasta recipes that are characteristic of Italy. These dishes stand out for their creative names, simplicity in using local ingredients, and quick preparation. Among the selections, Spaghetti Alla Nerano steals the show, featuring spaghetti, zucchini, fresh parsley, basil, and provolone. See my version of the recipe here.

Roman cuisine is famous all over the world thanks to pasta alla carbonara, pasta all’amatriciana, cacio e pepe, and gricia, but Pasta Alla Zozzona deserves its own spot of celebrity. Translated into English, the name means “dirty pasta,” and according to Panzella the adjective is due to the fatty, succulent (and highly satisfying), ingredients used in the sauce, a list that includes sausages, pork cheek, onion, and pecorino.

Another excellent choice is Pasta Alla Carrettiera, a Sicilian recipe reminiscent of Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino (AOP), which offers the delightful addition of pecorino cheese and fresh parsley.

We will cover this fabulous list of pasta dishes in separate sections, allowing us to explore and prepare each of them personally.

Conclusion:

As you can see, July brings a cornucopia of culinary wonders to the Italian food scene. Who knows what might happen in August? Stay tuned for upcoming articles dedicated to exploring the treasures in-depth and continue our gastronomic journey through the flavors of Italy!

References

Cajelli, C. (2023, July 5). Parmesan Espresso Martini, ricetta e prova d’assaggio del cocktail. Dissapore. https://www.dissapore.com/cucina/parmesan-espresso-martini-ricetta-prova-assaggio-del-cocktail/

Confraternita della tagliatella. (n.d.). confraternitadellatagliatella.org. http://Www.confraternitadellatagliatella.org. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.confraternitadellatagliatella.org/

Hagopian, P. (2023, April 12). I Tried a Parmesan Espresso Martini & I’m So Confused. Food52. https://food52.com/drinks/cocktails/27927-parmesan-espresso-martini-review

IBA. (2021, April 29). Espresso Martini. Iba-World.com. https://iba-world.com/espresso-martini/

Il Cucchiaio D’Argento. (n.d.). 25 ricette gustose di pasta che forse non conosci e non hai mai cucinato. Il Cucchiaio D’Argento. Retrieved July 11, 2023, from https://www.cucchiaio.it/fotogallery/ricette-pasta-gustose/

Ozbun, T. (2023, May 4). Per capita consumption of pasta by country. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1379424/per-capita-consumption-pasta-by-country/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20pasta%20consumption%20per

Schachter, M. (2023, July 5). Spaghetto 3D: l’ultima frontiera della pasta (artigianale) è digitale. La Cucina Italiana; La Cucina Italiana. https://www.lacucinaitaliana.it/gallery/spaghetto-3d-pasta-artigianale-digitale-tecnologia-barilla-blurhapsody/

Tagliabue, F. (2023, July 7). La misura aurea della tagliatella. Sale&Pepe. https://www.salepepe.it/news/piaceri/la-misura-aurea-della-tagliatella/

tiramisuworldcup. (n.d.). Tiramisù World Cup – Can you make the best Tiramisù in the world? TWC. https://tiramisuworldcup.com/en/

Tosoni, G. (2023, July 4). Tiramisù World Cup 2023: come partecipare. Agrodolce. https://www.agrodolce.it/news/tiramisu-world-cup-2023/