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CONTACT: Molly Wright for Barilla
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  molly_wright@chi.bm.com
  

A MATCH MADE IN … ITALY
Pasta and Sauce Pairing Is the Key to Delicious Italian Meals

Chicago (Oct. 14, 2003) – Chocolate and strawberries, champagne and caviar, fine wine and gourmet cheese – all celebrated food pairings of the century.  Yet the longest and most enduring pairing took place in the 17th century and is still happily united today.  Pasta and pasta sauce, one of the greatest culinary marriages, are the cornerstones of authentic Italian cooking and when paired appropriately, optimize Italian cuisine.

Widely known and used throughout the regions of Italy, the pairing process aims to harmonize the shape and surface of the pasta cut with the color, consistency and flavor of the sauce.  James Beard award-winning Chef Roberto Donna and Barilla have joined together to bring years of Italian culinary knowledge to home-chefs through tips, guidelines and recipes showcasing this pairing art form, enabling them to recreate endless perfect pairs in their own kitchens. 

“The pairing concept is extremely helpful in bringing out the flavors and textures of a delicious, authentic Italian meal,” said Chef Donna.  “It all starts with considering the size and texture of both the pasta and the pasta sauce.  For example, angel hair pasta, which has a light, delicate surface texture, doesn’t have the strength to hold chunky sauce, so it’s best paired with less dense sauces like pesto, tomato and basil, and béchamel (white) sauces.”

Another important consideration is to feature ingredients that best complement the pasta cut and the pasta sauce pairing.  For example, chunkier, heartier sauces can withstand large, more substantial vegetables and meats, while more delicate sauces and pasta cuts need smaller, more delicate ingredients. 

To further illustrate the concept, Chef Donna offers a few examples of pairing options based on the shape and consistency of three common pasta cuts, and the pasta sauces and ingredients they best pair with including: 
Oven Shapes:  Jumbo Shells (Conchiglioni), Manicotti (Cannelloni) and Lasagne are versatile and work best lightly stuffed with cheese, meat-based sauces (ragu) and vegetable fillings; coated in meat, mushroom or béchamel (white) sauce. 
Long, Round Pasta:  These well-known pastas come in a variety of thickness options that dictate their respective sauce pairing, ranging from Angel Hair paired with a simple tomato & basil sauce to Thick Spaghetti paired with a robust meat-based ragu.
Curved Tube Shapes:  Elbow Macaroni (called “Chifferi” in Italian) and Pipette are a few examples of pasta shapes that have deep ridges and curves and are able to hold a double dose of a chunky, meat-based sauce (ragu).

“When creating dishes that feature curved tube shapes, I like to experiment with ingredients that complement the unique shape,” said Chef Donna.  “In fact, I recently created a recipe using Barilla’s Pipette pasta and their Roasted Garlic & Onion Sauce that included small cubes of monk fish and peas in the sauce. I chose this combination because the small size of the fish and peas fits perfectly into the hollow crevices of the pasta and the ridges hold on to the sauce, providing a surprising burst of flavor in every bite.”  

For additional pasta cuts and suggestions for a perfect sauce match, the following table is a quick reference guide from Chef Donna to assist in the creation of perfect pairs at home. Recipes are available at www.barilla.com.
 

The possibilities don’t stop there.  Barilla gives home-chefs around the world the tools to bring authentic Italian perfect pairs to life in their own kitchens by providing 10 varieties of pasta sauces and 33 pasta shapes available to consumers in the U.S. (and over a 120 shapes worldwide).  For more information on Barilla food products, or to download recipes, please visit www.barilla.com.

About Barilla
Since 1877, the Barilla company has been producing pasta and other grain-based foods for consumers around the world.  The company’s basic animating principle has been to make these healthy products affordable to all, no matter where they might be. Barilla has remained true to its entrepreneurial roots over the past four generations, by combining ancient Italian traditions with cutting-edge technological advances.  The result is a globally successful company, built on a foundation of principles that allow for continuous growth to reach ever-expanding goals.

The Barilla Group – whose brands include Barilla, Mulino Bianco, Pavesi, Voiello, Wasa, Misko (Greece), Filiz (Turkey), and Yemina and Vesta (Mexico) – is the first Italian food group, headed by the Barilla family for 125 years. The Group has 25 factories (18 in Italy and 7 abroad). It is a worldwide leader in pasta and currently realizes 31% of sales in volume in more than 100 countries.