Over the years I have worked at a few Italian restaurants. This has left me with two distinct traits. First, a burning desire to flee anytime I hear a Mario Lanza tune. Second, is a tremendous amount of random facts about pasta. During my short break between shifts, here are the translations for random noodle names.
Spaghetti: Little Twines
Vermicelli: Little Worms
Capellini: Little Hairs
Bucatini: Little Holed Ones
Fusilli: Rifles
Fettuccine: Little Slices
Lasagne: Cooking Pot
Linguine: Little Tongues
Cannelloni: Large Little Canes
Cavatappi: Corkscrew
Fusilli: Little Spindles
Gemelli: Twins
Manicotti: Sleeves
Mostaccioli: Mustache
Penne: Pens
Rigatoni: Large Lined Ones
Farfalle: Butterflies
Orecchiette: Little Ears
Orzo: Barley
Tortellini: Little Pies
Tortelloni: Large Little Pies
Gnocchi: Knot In Wood
Now it is time to return for the dinner shift. Hope that covers them all. Did I leave one out? Want to challenge me to a random pasta name? Want to pick the next topic? Want to hit me with a random food question? Leave a comment.
No matter the name, shape or size, I love me some pasta.
Pappardelle? Tagliatelle?
Pappardelle- The best i can find is Pappare which is “to gobble up” Any Italian speakers who can tell us what the delle conjugation is?
Tagliatelle- similar situation. Tagliare is “to cut.”
No matter the name, shape or size, I love me some pasta.
+1
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pasta name endining with —oni and ending with –ini ,what does it indicate??????
“Oni” would indicate large while “ini” would indicate small. For example tortellini means “little pies” whereas tortelloni means “big little pies”
How about ziti?
According to what I can find, it is derived from Zito which is the Italian word for bridegroom