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Written by Jessica Ackerman
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When most people talk about pasta, they probably think of Italy
as its birth place. Historians would disagree however, and give
credit to our neighbors in the east for inventing the earliest
form of this much loved food.
It was around 1700 B.C. when the Chinese came up with a noodle
made from rice flour. While not a popular theory with those who
insist on giving credit to the Italians, the Chinese do get the
vote from most historians.
That doesn't mean that the Italians were not major players in
the evolution of pasta as we know it. Around 400 B.C. the
Etruscans, who live in an area in the western part of Italy,
made a noodle similar to lasagna. This noodle was made from
spelt, a grain from which wheat has evolved.
Much later the Romans are credited with making a noodle
similar
to the one made by the Etruscans, out of flour and water. These
noodles, like the earlier versions by the Chinese, were prepared
by baking in an oven.
Boiled noodles came later and the Italians don't get credit
for
inventing these either. Instead, we can thank Arab traders who
would bring dried noodles along on their very long trips to the
Orient. Who doesn't want a hot meal while traveling? The Arabs
did, and they realized that this dried pasta along with a little
boiling water was a quick, hot and easy to carry meal.
The Arabs brought this food with them to Sicily during the 8th
century invasions. Before too long the Italian city of Palermo
was producing huge quantities of dried pasta. So, can we give
Italians the credit for mass producing pasta? Much to the
delight of the Italians, most historians would say, yes.
Specifically, Naples gets the credit for the invention of
techniques that allowed dried pasta to be produced en masse in
1600's. This pasta, which could last a long time, is credited with
bringing Naples out of an economic depression. No wonder
Italians love their pasta!
This pasta was often sold by street vendors and was eaten with
the bare hands. If you're thinking the sauce must have made
quite a mess then you're jumping ahead in the story. Pasta at
this time was eaten either plain or sprinkled with cheese. It's
not until a couple of centuries later that sauce was introduced.
The first written record of a tomato sauce recipe is 1839.
Soon
pasta was becoming popular all over the country of Italy, and
pastas of various shapes were being introduced. Still, even with
its popularity, pasta was being made by small family businesses.
Spaghetti, macaroni and vermicelli were being handmade by those
specially trained in the art of pasta making.
The Agnese family changed all of that in 1824 when they opened
the very first pasta factory in Northern Italy. It's easy to see
why Italians get the credit for this favorite food, and in the
United States a wave of Italian immigration would help to
cement the idea that pasta was an Italian food.
Even though Thomas Jefferson had brought pasta to America as
early as the late 1700's, the food didn't become widely popular
in the country until 1880-1900 when large numbers of Italian
immigrants came to America, bringing pasta with them. The next
several years would bring even more advances for pasta such as
the addition of meatballs and later, thanks to the
Franco-American company, canned pasta.
Pasta has a place in American history as well. In the 1920's
farmers used pasta as a marketing campaign for wheat. During the
depression, the inexpensive and filling dish became a staple in
many households.
Today, pasta is as popular as ever. In tiny sidewalk cafes to
the fanciest of gourmet restaurants, you are sure to find a few
pasta dishes on the menu. Whether you choose to thank the
Italians for this delicious food or their eastern neighbors, we
can all agree that our dinner tables wouldn't be the same
without this fabulous food.
About the Author:
Jessica Ackerman is a popular contributor to one of the
best
Seattle Pasta Delivery restaurants - Padrino's Pizza and Pasta. Do
not hesitate to call them for your late night food
delivery; we are open by 3am daily.
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