British Pasta Recipe Sparks Wave of Outrage in Italy

Yahoo

2 days ago

The British Broadcasting Corporation, or BBC, publishes recipes from around the world in the Food category on its website, including numerous pasta dishes from Italy. However, a recently published recipe for a traditional Roman pasta dish has sparked outrage among Italian restaurateurs. TRAVELBOOK reveals what it's all about.
When it comes to their original recipes, Italians are famously uncompromising. Recently, an Australian restaurant chain caused a social media storm with its unconventional pizza creation featuring ham and oranges (TRAVELBOOK reported). And it's not uncommon for Italian restaurateurs to charge a penalty fee to guests who order a Hawaiian pizza.
In the current case, it's a recipe for the traditional Roman pasta dish Cacio e Pepe, published by the BBC, that has drawn the ire of Italians. According to the Italian daily newspaper 'Il Messaggero,' the British are committing a 'mortal sin' in the eyes of Roman chefs by listing butter and Parmesan as basic ingredients.
'We Are Stunned'
'We are stunned when we read this recipe on the BBC website,' the newspaper quotes Claudio Pica, president of the Roman restaurant association Fiepet Confesercenti. 'We regret having to correct the venerable British medium, but the original and authentic recipe for Cacio e Pepe does not include Parmesan or butter. The ingredients are not four, but three: pasta, pepper, and Pecorino.'
What particularly bothers him is the fact that the BBC presents the recipe as the original recipe—and not as a possible variation. 'We have asked the BBC website to correct the recipe and informed the British Embassy in Rome.'
Another Cacio e Pepe Recipe Causes New Stir
In the meantime, the BBC has indeed slightly modified the recipe and now lists Pecorino instead of Parmesan in the ingredients. However, butter is still listed as a basic ingredient. And now another recipe for Cacio e Pepe, also published on the BBC website, is causing new controversy. This one even recommends adding cream to make the sauce 'creamier.'
'The BBC even recommends Cacio e Pepe with cream—an affront to all Roman restaurateurs!' exclaims Claudio Pica in another report by 'Il Messaggero.' He then addresses King Charles II: 'Come to Rome—I invite you and will serve you a Cacio e Pepe according to all the rules of art and tradition.'
Whether the King of England will accept this invitation is questionable. In any case, it remains to be seen whether the pasta dispute between London and Rome will go another round.
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