Snapshots
February 7 is National Fettuccine Alfredo Day, a celebration honouring the cheesy and creamy pasta dish. Every year on this day, pasta connoisseurs gather together to celebrate Fettuccine Alfredo, a dish that has become synonymous with indulgence and comfort food all over the globe. This day is dedicated to honouring this cuisine, whether you choose a traditional rendition or alter it to suit your preferences.
Why do we celebrate National Fettucine Alfredo Day?
To celebrate his grandfather's contribution to the world of Italian cuisine, Ines Di Lelio, who is Alfredo's grandson, created this holiday in 2005. Everyone is invited to delight in the decadent tastes of this traditional pasta dish and raise a glass of toast. The flavour and history of fettuccine alfredo are equally rich. In 1908, a concerned Italian restauranteur created fettuccine out of love. Concerned about his pregnant wife's lack of appetite, Alfredo di Lelio decided to put his abilities to use. Their first son's birth was riding on it. She was the one who urged her to eat his noodles with cheese and butter recipe, and he was the one who placed it on the menu when she did. Ever since then, pasta fans all around the globe have been satiated by the dish, which is a century old.
Enjoy this delicious, creamy treat however you choose to celebrate National Fettuccine Alfredo Day. If you're in the mood to be wild, try using items that aren't in the standard recipe. On this day, Fettuccine Alfredo is often on sale or discounted in restaurants and cafeterias. This is a great day to gather around the table and enjoy a dinner with loved ones.
History of National Fettucine Alfredo Day
The Italian practice of combining pasta with butter and cheese dates back to the fifteenth century. In his cookbook, Libro de Arte Coquinaria, the Northern Italian chef Martino da Como included instructions for what is known as "Roman macaroni" or "maccaroni romaneschi." The homemade pasta that Martino described in his recipe required kneading white flour, cutting it into thin strips, and then boiling it in salted water or a rich broth with butter.
Fettuccine Alfredo as we know it now has its roots in this humble but decadent dish. Alfredo Di Lelio, who lived in Rome in the early 20th century, is considered the creator of the contemporary Alfredo. To provide his wife with the nourishment she required after giving birth, Alfredo boiled some fettuccine, grated some young Parmesan cheese, and melted some butter. Due to visits by American stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks to Alfredo's restaurant in the 1920s, this became famous across the world.
Why is National Fettucine Alfredo Day so popular?
What got everyone talking, however, was how Alfredo made the meal right there at the table. These days, you may find two Roman eateries—Alberto alla Scrofa and Il Vero Alfredo—that both lay claim to serving the legendary fettuccine, Alfredo. Fettuccine Alfredo, served with a dollop of heavy cream, shot to fame in America. Jarred Alfredo sauces are now readily accessible, and chains like Olive Garden helped make it a dining favourite. Some people think it's too expensive, while others like its decadence. Although there is a wide variety of Alfredo sauces available today, from store-bought to handmade, the traditional Italian recipe is all about butter, Parmesan, and keeping things simple.
Fettuccini is great with alfredo, but there are many of other sauces that complement it. When you cook fettuccini again, give them a go:
- Pesto — This sauce is made ahead of time and consists of herbs, pine nuts, and garlic. The flavour it imparts to seafood and fowl is equally mouth-watering.
- Fresh and light, marinara is a go-to tomato-based sauce.
- Another simple tomato-based sauce, Bolognese is a must-have in every kitchen. The addition of ground beef gives it a hearty flavour and a little smoothness.
- Carnaroli is a cream-based sauce that, like alfredo, benefits from the inclusion of pancetta or bacon.