carbonara

Carbonara – The King of Pasta

Spaghetti alla Carbonara is Italian Soul Food

carbonara
The Pasta created by Angels

As I sit here snacking on keto approved cauliflower crackers and sipping on carbonated water, my mind drifts back to happier times and happier places. Naturally, Italy is our happy place and dining on delicious plates of carbonara are our happy times.

When it comes to pasta dishes that I’ve enjoyed over the years… and there have been many, the traditional Roman style Carbonara stands out as my Official Italian Comfort Food.  

I want Carbonara for dinner tonight!
Linguine + Pancetta + Pecorino + Pepe = Perfection!

What makes a great plate of Carbonara?

It’s the simplicity of its ingredients! Let’s start with the pasta. Typically you will find that spaghetti, linguine and fettuccine are the popular go to pasta options. Winding these long, sauce catching strips of pasta around a fork is an important part of building anticipation for that very first delicious bite. Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my lips.

Choosing a good hard cheese is key for creating the overall flavor and texture of the dish. Pecorino or maybe Parmigiano-Reggiano are solid cheese choices, (excuse the pun).

To create the right sauce for the carbonara, you will need a couple farm fresh eggs and the hard cheese of your choice. These two ingredients give this tasty sauce the stickiness needed for it to cling to the pasta.

In order to elevate this pasta dish above all others, use the traditional Pancetta (belly) or Guanciale (cheek). These are the typical cuts of pork that are used. For me, Pancetta is the one. In my humble opinion, Guanciale is a bit too fatty. Don’t get me wrong, I will eat it and I will enjoy it but… I carry with me a fat aversion since childhood. It’s a quirk not easily overcome.

To put the crown on this wonderful pasta dish, you need to top it off with a dusting of the worlds number one spice. Pepper! Yes my friends, give that pepper grinder a good crank to make it an authentic dish of Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Buon Appetito!

If you would like to see how easy it is to make carbonara for yourself, check out this link.

Finishing touches to our Carbonara
A sneak peek of what’s to come in Orvieto

And the runners up are….

I’m getting a vibe from the universe that possibly, just possibly, you may not agree with me regarding which pasta dish is, in fact, the King of Pasta!

To appease the masses, I’ll offer up my runner up pasta dishes which, in their own right, are molto bellissimo.

Pasta al Pomodoro – Pasta with Tomatoes

No matter which pasta noodle you choose, once topped with either a straight tomato sauce or bolognese sauce, it’s nothing less than fantastic! There is only one reason I can’t crown spaghetti al pomodoro as king. Frankly, it’s not the first food that comes to mind when I dream of cheating on keto. Carbonara is!

Frutti di Mare – Seafood Pasta

As far as visually pleasing dishes go, it’s hard to beat a well plated seafood pasta dish. With a medley of fresh fish and pasta smothered in tasty tomato sauce, it’s a very popular choice. I for one, don’t particularly care for the fishy taste of these dishes but… my wife loves them!

Last but certainly not least

Here we have a wonderful collection of pasta dishes using tortellini, tagliolini, fettuccine and spaghetti noodles. And let’s not forget the lovely lasagna noodle.

The variety of sauces used to bring pasta to life are infinite. Some of our favorites include, olive oil and garlic, white cheese, Alfredo and Porcini/ mushroom sauce. If you were wondering… yes they were ALL fantastic!

What’s YOUR favorite pasta?

Here’s your chance to enlighten me on the best pasta in Italia. Let me know what makes you say… Mamma mia, assolutamente delizioso.

I’m listening 🙂

Frutti di Mare

Dreaming of Seafood in Vernazza… a very fishy story

 

On second thought.... wanna trade?
Check out my mussels

 

If seafood is your weakness, then Vernazza will bring you to your knees.

As seafood lovers go, I would consider myself to be a part time lover.  There are a number of dishes that I am sweet on, but only one or two of them have my heart.  Tamara on the other hand is a seafood connoisseur.  She is far more adventurous than I could ever be. While she looks forward to eating things like octopus ink pasta, I just find it hard to look at.

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gelato

Gelato is Italy’s Perfect Treat

Come and Get It
Come and Get It

Oooh Gelato, I love you…

Alright I’ll come clean… I love gelato.  Or maybe I should say “I love eating gelato in Italy.”   The ritual of going on an evening stroll along one of the shop lined via’s is one of my favorite ways to wind up the day.  Gelato is also a great way to deal with the mid day heat.  Oh sure, you may think that’s just a quick way to pack on the pounds but truth be told,  after all the walking we do sightseeing,  we have yet to gain weight.  Now if we could only keep it up at home we’d be doing great.

 

 

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