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How Pasta Won The Hearts of Americans

25 October 20245 min reading

Philadelphia will be the 2024 global pasta capital, hosting the celebrations for World Pasta Day and the World Pasta Congress, bringing together all the industry professionals.  

While the connection between the “City of Brotherly Love” and the dish that symbolises conviviality and togetherness seems natural, what’s more surprising is how pasta has become a phenomenon in the homeland of high-protein diets and carbophobia. This is shown by the rise in per capita pasta consumption in the U.S., now at 8.8 kg—roughly double what it was in the 1980s – making pasta the sixth most consumed food in the country. 

Pasta has been eaten in America for over 200 years. The first “pasta maker” in the U.S. was none other than Thomas Jefferson, who brought the first macaroni machine to America after visiting Europe as the U.S. ambassador to France in 1789. The “Founding Father” also designed a pasta-making machine with his original sketch and operating instructions now preserved at the Library of Congress.  

But pasta’s journey to rival bagels, hamburgers, and turkey, as America’s “comfort food”, has been a long one. A recent survey by the National Pasta Association shows that pasta even beats chocolate (56% vs. 44%) as the food Americans say they could never give up. 

 Philadelphia shares the honour of being the first pasta capital outside of Italy with other major cities in the Northeast.  

86% of Americans eat pasta at least once a week, while the average across the rest of the U.S. remains substantial at 77%, with 33% of the population consuming it up to three times a week. Even those on diets find it hard to resist this Mediterranean staple; 42% of individuals who attempted a low-carb diet had to give it up because they couldn’t part with pasta. This can be attributed to its affordability—ranked among the least expensive foods by 78% of the population—its versatility (78% agree), and the fact that it is loved by everyone (72%). 

 In fact, considering the average cost of a one-pound package of pasta (approximately $1.45 for just under 500 grams), a family of four in America can enjoy a plate of pasta with tomato sauce and cheese for the same price as a classic hamburger from a fast-food restaurant, which is around $5.69


 FAVOURITE RECIPES 

Among the favourite recipes in the States, baked ziti certainly stands out. This dish has been prepared and served, in American homes and restaurants, for many years. Broken ziti are baked in a casserole after being mixed with various sauces typical of Italian-American cuisine, such as tomato, cheese, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and much more. According to the National Pasta Association, spaghetti is the favourite pasta shape (40%), followed by spaghettini, elbows, wheels, and penne. The most popular pasta recipe is with cheese sauce (37%), followed by meat-based sauces (32%), vegetable sauces (31%), and fish sauces (20%). 


CURIOSITIES 

From a historical article featured in the New York Times, a growing trend emerged in America: using less water when cooking pasta, with just half a liter for every 100 grams of spaghetti. The technique of cooking (or finishing) pasta “risotto-style,” directly in the pan with the sauce, gained popularity too. In recent years, one of the most passionate pasta lovers has been Michelle Obama, who has expressed her love for pasta, the Mediterranean diet, and innovative cooking methods. She even posed with a plate of spaghetti for the TIME to showcase the results of the anti-obesity campaign “Let’s Move!” and to present her eco-friendly pasta recipe: “risotto-style spaghetti with tomato and spinach.” 

If pasta has won over the USA, it is also thanks to the many celebrities who have expressed their immense passion for it. The first were the golden couple of Hollywood, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. The two silent film stars fell so in love with Fettuccine Alfredo during their visit to a Roman trattoria that they promoted the dish once they returned home and gifted the owner with iconic gold utensils. Over the years, the love affair between showbiz and pasta has remained strong. Among the most notable faces are Madonna, Robert De Niro, Scarlett Johansson, and Quentin Tarantino. Additionally, Taylor Swift has stated that Spaghetti and Meatballs is a dish she will never stop cooking. Meanwhile, Oprah Winfrey has perfected the classic pasta with mushrooms and peas, adding a citrusy touch with lemon zest. Pasta and peas (with onion and a generous grating of Parmesan) seem to be the favourite dish of supermodel Kendall Jenner. While Ellen DeGeneres is a fan of Arrabbiata, Beyoncé has a soft spot for classic spaghetti with tomato sauce, even posting a photo on Instagram of herself eating it on a plane… with her hands. As for George Clooney, a frequent visitor to Italy, he goes crazy for classic regional dishes like Carbonara. Meanwhile, Iron Man and Oppenheimer star Robert Downey Jr. has shared his enjoyment of a plate of penne cooked by his friend Stanley Tucci. Lastly, Chrissy Teigen, who has never hidden her passion for cooking, prepares various pasta dishes for her husband John Legend, including a Lemon and Arugula Cacio e Pepe. 

 According to Raffaello Ragaglini, Honorary Secretary General of the International Pasta Organisation, “By celebrating World Pasta Day, we also recognise the important role that pasta plays in feeding the world and its ability to adapt to every culture. Since the first World Pasta Congress in 1995, pasta has established itself as the product that best embodies a healthy, safe, conscious, and environmentally sustainable food culture.”

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