Why bread is served with Pasta?
Recently I went on a date and we ordered pasta, that’s how they served it. Here the bread makes little to no difference in the meal, I was very sure that there it had some significance. So I dug deeper, and that’s what this newsletter is about
Bread is often served with pasta, especially in many American, European and now even in Indian restaurants, for several reasons:
Tradition: In Italian dining, bread is a staple. Though in Italy it's not always served directly with pasta, bread is often available throughout the meal to accompany various dishes.
Sauce Absorption: One of the joys of eating pasta is the sauce. Bread serves as a tool to "sop up" or absorb any leftover sauce on the plate, ensuring none of the delicious flavours go to waste. This act is known as "fare la scarpetta" in Italian, which literally translates to "make a little shoe," describing the action of using bread to mop up sauce.
Filling: Bread acts as a filler in a meal, ensuring that diners are satiated. For restaurants, it can be a cost-effective way to make sure customers leave feeling full.
Texture Contrast: Pasta, especially when accompanied by a rich sauce, can be soft. Bread, especially if it's crusty, can provide a contrasting texture to the meal.
Pacing the Meal: In many dining settings, bread is served as an appetiser or alongside the main meal, allowing diners to munch on something while they wait for their pasta or in between bites of their main dish.
Economic Reasons for Restaurants: Bread is relatively inexpensive for restaurants to source or make. By serving bread with meals, restaurants can offer added value to diners at a low cost.
While serving bread with pasta is common in many establishments, especially in the U.S., it's worth noting that in traditional Italian dining, bread might not always be consumed directly with pasta. Instead, it might be enjoyed with other parts of the meal or used, as mentioned, to mop up leftover sauces.
Thanks for reading, I’ll see you in the next one