It had been a while since we last ate penne, so friday I made them fresh with the torchio and served them with Nonna’s quick & easy tomato sauce.

While we were eating, I noticed something funny: Dave was eating the penne in a very particular way. Of course, I had to ask him why.

That’s when he shared a little memory with me from the days when he used to come home from school and go to his Nonna Rosanna’s house for lunch. And once I discovered the reason behind it, I honestly couldn’t stop laughing, so I knew I had to share it with you, Pasta Fam.

Knowing Nonna Rosanna, I could immediately picture the whole scene.

Imagine little Dave: super thin, super shy (hard to believe, right?) wearing his shorts and knee-high socks, walking from school to his nonna’s house for lunch with only one thought in his mind: “What delicious thing has she made for me today?”

And there she was, Nonna Rosanna, waiting for him on the balcony. She was a petite woman, not very tall, always perfectly put together, but with the strength of a force of nature.

Even from the street, Dave could already smell something good coming from her kitchen. He couldn’t wait to walk through the door, throw his school bag down, and sit at the table.

There was the freshly ironed tablecloth, the little pieces of bread ready for scarpetta, and the second course already waiting: one day polpette, another day cotoletta, another day beef roast, or maybe vitello tonnato.

But there was one thing that could never be missing from the table.

Pasta. (what else?!)

And not just any pasta.

His pasta.

Back then, Dave’s favorite was rotini with a simple tomato and basil sauce.

Do you know rotini? Just imagine those little tight spirals catching every bit of sauce and holding onto all that flavor. So simple, so delicious, and a true treat for the taste buds.