Pasta Joke

Spoiler alert - there is no joke. 

 

Fantasy Bob is going all foodie below.  He has not quite got to posting photos of his dinner on Instagram (whatever that is), but that could be the next phase in his long slow decline.

 

He is prompted by an article in a newspaper today about pasta.  It go him recollecting that when FB was a growing lad his experience of pasta was limited to tins of Heinz Spaghetti (with the occasional foray into Alphabeti Spaghetti or Spaghetti Hoops).  Once in a while there was a tin of Heinz Ravioli.  That was it.  Fresh pasta meant that the tin had been opened less than 10 minutes ago.  The Spaghetti, and Ravioli, came smothered in a sweet red substance that could barely be called tomato sauce.  Al dente was not a concept, the spaghetti came out soft on the point of collapse.  The Ravioli was stuffed with something it would be wise not to think too hard about.  Obviously FB ate it all with relish and asked for more. 

 

There was also the alternative of home made macaroni cheese, which was excellent.

 

Spaghetti, ravioli and macaroni.  Three types. That was it.  Until when?  When did the pasta invasion happen?

 

Nowadays a dizzying variety of past shapes is available - both dried and fresh.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg.  Consultation with any reference book will show pages and pages of types -  flat, round, tubular, hollow, filled.  All with delightful Italian names.  Want to sound Italian?  Just recite several pasts varieties with a few hand gestures.

 

'Pipa!  Rigate nuvole maltagliati.'

 

'Stringozzi.  Pici bucatini, cavatappi.'

 Lines Dante might have written.

 

Pasta dishes can even feature in cricket teas these days.  And why not?  It is always going to be better than a spam sandwich.

 

So as he is in pasta mood, here are 5 of FB's fondly remembered pasta dishes from recent dining.

 

Capelli D'Angelo with n'duja ragu - part of a recent lockdown home delivery menu from Six by Nico.  Angel Hairs with a spicy but delicate meat sauce.  Exceptional.

Lobster Ravioli - a treat some years ago at Martin Wishart's Restaurant.  Perfect.

Spaghetti Marinara - frequently enjoyed at Bar Leo in Linlithgow, a favourite lunch spot for FB and his father in his last years.  Simple but so effective.

Mezzalune con Ricotta e Limone - open air fine dining beside Lake Garda - maybe anything would taste special but this was as delicate as the soft wind off the lake that kept FB and Mrs FB cool.

Spaghetti Carbonara - at the Belmonte Pizzeria in Obergurgl, Austria.  Still in the memory as FB's definitive carbonara, a perfect blending of bacon, garlic, egg yolk, even though it is several years since FB's last visit there. Perfect after a day's skiing.  (Italy is on the other side of the mountain from Obergurgl - maybe that's what made it so good).