Borella pasta (not Barilla!)

[perc-o-prince]

Has anyone come across Bigoli de Bassan pasta by Borella? I've not been able to find it here, though I did just contact the company in Italy directly to see if it might be available for shipping to the US.

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[rp2813]

Chuck

Maybe one of our Canadian members would be willing to work out a deal to buy a Costco 3-pack and ship it to you -- if you think it would be worth it at nearly $8 Canadian per pound.

 

I wonder why this isn't available in the U.S. -- even at a place like Cost Plus.

http://www.costco.ca/Borella-–-Bigoli-de-Bassan-Pasta-3-pack.product.100279635.html

 

[gfm8959]

http://todarobros.com/borella-bigoli-de-bassan.html

 

[vacerator]

The Cento

company and DiLello also have imported delicious pastas available.
Check any Italian gourmet market.

 

[foraloysius]

As a pasta lover I would love to know what's so special about this pasta. My personal favourite is De Cecco pasta, but I don't think they have these extreme long and thick sort of spaghettilike pasta.

 

[vacerator]

DeCecco is another good one.

For the most part, pasta is semolina, farina, egg, etc. The ratios may vary the texture is about it.
The only pasta I do not care for is the one you see in the mid eastern section of the stores with the green label and clear bags. It really has no flavor, and a bland texture as well.
There is a middle eastern desert made with noodles and honey in a skillet. It may be fine for that.
When I make my own fresh in the machine, it's equal parts semolina and flour, an egg, and just enough water to bind it into pea size nuggets.

 

[petek]

I used to get  long spaghetti pasta at Costco years ago, you know the stuff that's twice as long as regular.. but then you pay a premium price and have to break it in half anyways to fit in a normal sized pot. 

 

Like others said as long as it's durham semolina flour used there's not much difference in taste.. only the cheapest of cheap  pasta's don't use it.. which used to be the store brands but even they have better stuff now.. maybe no name dollar store crap still does I dunno.  Usually the thickness of the spaghetti is numbered or has a different name.. For instance I buy what's referred to as spaghettini which is slighly thinner than regular spaghetti.. cooks in 7 minutes instead of the usual 10-11. 

 

CR recently did a taste comparison between a Barilla premium Abruza spaghetti and their regular stuff... the only difference was the shape,, the  Abruza was square but identical ingredients.  They concluded most people wouldn't be able to tell the difference.   I don't buy Barilla btw..   

 

I eatsa lotsa pasta every day. 

 

[petek]

btw Chuck.. I'd get you some but we don't have a costco near us now and not a member anymore.. However if'n I'm near one with someone who has a card I can grab a few boxes foryou.  

 

[foraloysius]

I have to disagree with you Pete. A lot of pasta tastes good, but there are a few I really dislike. Delverde pasta was one of them, their spaghetti definitely has a different taste than De Cecco spaghetti. I also tried Pastificio di Martino. Way too chewy for me. So back I went to De Cecco. Try their linguine! Yummie!

 

[warmsecondrinse]

In the late 80's I actually spent three weeks near one of their factories in Fara, Provincia di Chieti. One half was painted blue and gold, the other dark green and gold. That factory produced both deCecco and delVerde pastas. Locals maintained that both came off the same assembly line; the only difference was the packaging.

 

Jim

 

[foraloysius]

LOL! Perhaps my taste changed then. It has been years since I ate Delverde pasta, didn't like it at all then. Only the last few years I changed to De Cecco.

 

[maytagbear]

In my part of the States,

De Cecco is very inexpensive, and is the best dried pasta I have ever had.

At a regional chain called Marc's, the spaghetti is 1.58 a box.

I credit the bronze dies and the low temperature drying.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[perc-o-prince]

Thanks, Jerry. I saw that store in NYC online but dismissed them as it's out of stock and they don't ship. I wonder why they bother to have an online store at all?

I'm familiar with Cento and DeCecco, but this is different. The texture is wonderful and it's hard to overcook it. I'm sure it's just the fact that a friend used to send it with other goodies from his region, but...

Pete- thanks, but my brother wanders into CA from WI and my cousin in ONT keeps in touch, so if I want it that badly, I know I can get it. Thanks for the Costco lead, Ralph!

Chuck

 

[robbinsandmyers]

For my money....

I really like the De Cecco and its not too pricey. A close second is Colavita pasta. The Price Rite store near me has a huge Cento section and I usually buy the Italian style tomatoes for $1.69. Theyre imported from Italy and I cant tell the difference from their San Marzanos although theirs are no longer DOP certified but theyre $2.00 a can cheaper. Here in New Haven its pizza ground zero and people have very high expectations of what good pizza is. Usually thin crust. Sallys Apizza which is a landmark has the best IMHO and one day while in there I noticed a cook using tomatoes from a huge red can. I pretended to go to the mens room and stared at the can the whole way there to try and make the label out. Its 6 in 1 brand and I was able to get a 5lb can at the local Italian cash n carry at the food terminal plaza for $5.00. Theyre ground tomatoes and Ive found make an excellent pasta or pizza sauce. They arent sold to the public in stores but you can buy online or at an Italian cash and carry place. The best kept secret in canned tomatoes, nice and sweet with no added sugar.

 

[rp2813]

My dad spent several months working on a project in Verona and he mentioned seeing ads for a brand of pasta with a slogan that claimed it always came out al dente no matter how long it was boiled.   I wonder if it was Borella.