WHAT IS PENNE?
Penne is from the Latin penna meaning feather or quill (aka “pen”). There are many versions of this very popular pasta. But they break down into two groups – the smooth (“lisce”) or the grooved (“rigate”). Variations like penne mezze for example is a rigate that has a larger diameter. Penne’s larger cousin pennoni or “big quills” is even wider. These hollow tube pastas in general are insanely popular and work well to hold sauce. Also, baked penne dishes are easy to make, not having to layer large pasta strips like you do with lasagna.
WHERE IS PENNE MADE?
It is rumored to be from the southern Italian region of Campania. But to be fair, this region is responsible for a lot of great pasta inventions. It is like saying a fashionable piece of Italian clothing was invented in Milan, or a great mustard based barbecue sauce is probably from South Carolina. While the origin of this pasta cut is lost in time, penne can be found all over the world.
SECRET NYC WOMAN’S RECIPE TURNS MEN INTO SEX SLAVES ?
This recipe is a variation of penne alla vodka. That original recipe is already a source of some debate. It has two possible origins. It was invented in the 1970s in a restaurant in Bologna. Or it was created by an NYC Columbia University graduate around the same time. Moreover the argument against an Italian origin is that pasta recipes tend to use traditional ingredients from the local area. So vodka doesn’t qualify. Regardless, in the late 1990’s a secret recipe was passed around Manhattan by single women looking to seduce men. Similar to the concept of Engagement Chicken, this recipe was called “Come Fuck Me Penne a la Vodka.” Much like a magical spell where no one knows how or why it works, you have to perform the ritual of making this recipe EXACTLY the way it is written. To find out more click on the recipe link!
WHAT SAUCES GO WELL WITH THIS PASTA?
If your pasta is al bronzo (bronze extruded), you want to avoid sauces that use oil (pesto, etc). Tomato based sauces will work better here. They allow the sandpaper surface of the dried pasta dough to cling to each piece of pasta. If you’d like to see one of our recipes using penne check out our marinara sauce recipe!
