Move over pumpkin spice and turkey dinner! October may be the month where we indulge in fall and Thanksgiving favourites, but what far too many of us forget or may not even know, is that October is a time to rejoice and indulge in our favourite carb - pasta!
October is National Pasta Month and home to National Pasta Day (October 16). If you needed an excuse to up your pasta intake this month or are taking the high road and limiting yourself to one day only - sweet October 16 - here are a few of our suggestions to explore the “pasta-bilities”!
Eataly - La Pizza & La Pasta
While you may not be able to hop on a flight to Italy for the occasion, there’s always Eataly! The name says it all folks, we all know the boot-shaped country as the birthplace of pizza and pasta, so clearly there’s no better place to pasta here in Toronto than at Eataly. Enjoy artisanal pasta dishes steps away from where Eataly’s in-house pasta chefs are making them by hand. No matter what your favourite pasta may be, find traditional and innovative dishes such as Lo Spaghetto al Pomodoro, Tagliatelle alla Bolognese and housemade gnocchi, always served al dente, with fresh seasonal ingredients and regional Italian sauces from north to south.
The Ritz Carlton Toronto - TOCA Trattoria
For elevated pasta dishes best enjoyed in a luxurious surrounding, TOCA Trattoria has got you covered. Treat yourself and perhaps your best pasta-loving pal to the new Trattoria menu created by Michelin-Starred Partner Chef Oliver Glowig, one of Rome’s most celebrated culinary leaders and the restaurant’s in-house culinary team. Some of our favourite pasta on the drool-worthy menu include the Ravioli ‘Capresi’ - homemade ravioli stuffed with Caciotta cheese, marjoram and tomato sauce, fresh Linguini Aglio E Olio, and Spaghetti Carbonara - finished in a DOP Parmigiano Reggiano wheel of cheese - buon appetito!
Ninja
Feel like making your own pasta creations for National Pasta Month without all the fuss but all of the fabulous? Ninja has got you covered! You may be using your blender/food processor for your favourite breakfast smoothies, but totally forgetting about its other uses! Stuffed pasta is the perfect way to have your blender/food processor be your best pal come entree time too! Be inspired by Ninja’s seasonal Cheesy Pumpkin Stuffed Shells recipe. Or if you’re more of a “set it and forget it” kind of cook, let the Ninja® 3-in-1 Cooking System do the work for you with the Hearty Skillet Lasagna recipe or use the Ninja® Foodi® 6.5-qt. Air Fyer/Pressure Cooker to whip up Baked Macaroni & Cheese and Toasted Ravioli. One bite of any of these recipes and you’ll see that not all pasta is made for cooking on the stovetop after all!
Summer Fresh
You may know the Canadian brand for its salads, dips and hummus, but are less likely to know Summer Fresh for their pasta - both hot and cold! For cold pasta salads, we gravitate towards classics like the Greek Pasta Feta Salad, Summer Rotini Salad and Pasta Italiano Salad - which come in smaller portions and larger - if you’re willing to share! These are perfect for when you want to get your pasta fix as a side, without committing to entree-sized potions. And let’s face it, even though BBQ season has come and gone, who doesn’t love to relive bites of summer? Pair these refreshing pasta salads with your go-to grill favourites, that you’re more likely to be pan searing or roasting this time of year!
Some like it hot, especially when it comes to pasta. If you’re not willing to dive into pasta of the colder, salad variety, Summer Fresh has also got you covered for pasta and noodles served warm. We’re loving the brand’s new Heat’N Eat Bowls, for those days where you’re go go go and still want to get your pasta on - fast. Available in Pasta al Pomodoro, Pasta Rosa, Pasta Alla Norma and DanDan Noodles, you will have oodles of noodle flavours to choose from. The best part is, the bowls are ready-to-eat in 4 minutes, so you spend less time thinking about pasta and more time slurping it up.
No matter what you do, don’t let the month go by without indulging in “pasting the time” with some delicious pasta!
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