One cannot talk about Italian food without talking about pasta. Be it spaghetti, lasagna, linguine, or tortellini, there could hardly be a more iconic part of the country’s cuisine. But where did pasta come from, and how did it become such an important part of the dining experience in Italy?
It is a common belief that Marco Polo was the first to introduce pasta to Italy, having brought it over from China. However, there is evidence that the country had a noodle dish as far back as the first century, AD. This dish was known as “lagane”, and was baked in an oven instead of boiled. Other than this, it apparently resembled the pasta made in Italy today.
The nutritional value and exceptional shelf-life of pasta drove its rise in popularity throughout Italy, and made it a great food for long ocean voyages. It was for this reason that Italian pasta was often among the first dishes that immigrants would share with their new neighbors when they travelled abroad. Today, you can find a rich variety of Italian-style pastas at our Italian restaurant in Bothell, so come and get your pasta fix tonight!