Today is World Pasta Day and with the great number of pasta establishments in Southeast Florida it is easy to see why it is such an important dish! Today is a great day to putting counting carbs aside and dive into a big bowl of pasta!  The World Pasta Day holiday only recently began in 1995 when 40 pasta manufacturers from around the globe gathered to hold the first World Pasta Congress.

Manufactured pasta was invented by a true Italian chef by the name of Hector Boiardi. He started a manufacturing company in Pennsylvania over 80 years ago. The truth of the matter is that the world has enjoyed this dish since the first century AD.  While legend has it that Marco Polo imported pasta from China in the 1200’s, we do know factually that dried pasta surged in popularity during the 14th and 15th centuries.  The main reason for its popularity was its easy storage. This allowed people to bring pasta along on ships when exploring the New World.

Hungary boasted the first ever pasta factory in 1859 and Italy’s Buitoni Company began rolling out pasta eight years later in 1867. During a stay in Paris, President Jefferson ate what he referred to as “macaroni,” but it might have been any type of pasta.  He returned to America with two cases of “macaroni”.  Pasta’s popularity in the United States rose during the late 19th century, when a large influx of Italian immigrants moved to America.

Since then, people around the world have united each October to pay tribute to one of the most delicious and versatile foods ever.

Buon appetito!