I'm Italian - there is only one dried supermarket pasta I buy and you can find it at Woolworths
When asked by a Sydneysider what brand Italians recommend at Woolworths, Coles or Aldi for those unable to make pasta at home, there was one that stood out from the pack.
The 'golden' buy? La Molisana.
Hundreds flooded a popular foodie forum to praise the brand and its 'authenticity' this week. It is sold at Woolworths, Harris Farm Markets, the odd deli and smaller Euro grocery stores.
'An Italian in Venice told me the secret. Buy the pasta with higher protein content. So, La Molisana with 14g protein/100g is the one and it's excellent,' one wrote.
'I'm second generation Australian-Italian if that still counts. La Molisana for dried pasta and Rana for fresh pasta,' another echoed.
'Can confirm - my Italian mother would only buy this when we were in Australia,' one more said.
Others said the brand was 'easily the best', 'the most authentic' and led to the 'best starchy water' - especially the egg fettuccine.
'La Molisana egg fettuccine is hands down the nicest pasta I've had since I had it from scratch when I was a kid. Aussie born with Italian Dad here,' a local wrote.
'Australian-Italian, if we aren't making it, it's usually La Molisana. Go for something with high protein and a light yellow colour. The darker types haven't been air dried [for several] days.'
La Molisana, owned by the Ferro family, has been in business for more than 100 years and boasts a pasta factory that is 'one of the highest in Italy' at 730m in the heart of Molise (Southern Italy).
This, they claim, offers 'pristine pasta-making conditions with clean mountain air, fresh spring water and superior grain growing'.
'The techniques used by the Ferro family combine ancient practices with modern technology, maintaining the grain's original properties to create the perfect pasta,' they say.
The company is the fifth largest pasta maker in Italy and they export to more than 80 countries. They also use high quality semolina flour - a must in most Italian cooking.
At Woolworths, shoppers can shop a fairly wide range of options including spaghetti, linguine, penne, rigatoni, farfalle, fettuccine, pappardelle, fusilli, gnocchi and lasagne.
There are also pesto and passata sauces.
While La Molisana was the brand mentioned most, it wasn't the only supermarket offering recommended by Italians.
At Coles, Cucina Matese was a go-to for many who described it as having a 'decent texture' and 'authentic'.
Meanwhile at Aldi, shoppers recommended Armando pasta but said while it may be 'pretty decent', they only have rigatoni, fusilli and linguine available.
Others recommended visiting a local delicatessen, as many provide imported and freshly made pasta that's 'miles better' than many of the supermarket options.
A few more brands listed included Barilla, Remano, Woolies' Macro, Divella and Guzzi's.
One more Australian-Italian summed up his go-to picks succinctly, with hundreds agreeing with his recap.
'Barilla if you need to buy cheap [and] en masse, La Molisana for the closest thing to real (dry) pasta and Rana for tortellini or ravioli,' he said.
Bellissimo!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
UN climate chief warns Australia not to pick a ‘bog standard' 2035 carbon emissions target
The UN's climate chief has declared Australia's 2035 emissions target will define the country's future, and urged the Albanese government to not pick a 'bog-standard' number but to 'go for what's smart by going big'. Speaking in Sydney on Monday, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary, Simon Stiell, cast the government's decision on the target – due by September – as the country's 'one shot' to build an 'on-ramp to the Asian clean tech boom', create hundreds of thousands of jobs and ensure the country's economic security and regional influence. The government is being heavily lobbied by industry and climate-focused organisations as it waits on advice about the 2035 target from the Climate Change Authority, a government agency led by chair Matt Kean, a former NSW Liberal treasurer and energy minister. Stiell, a former minister in the Grenadian government, did not say what the target should be, but said the decision was more than 'just the next policy milestone'. He said climate policy debates could be 'complex and contentious', but urged the country to not 'settle for what's easy'. 'If those debates deliver an ambitious, all-economy plan with public backing and political backbone then, whatever the naysayers might say, every hard-fought inch will be worth it,' he said at an event hosted by the Smart Energy Council, a clean energy industry organisation. 'Bog standard is beneath you … Go for what will build lasting wealth and national security. Go for what will change the game and stand the test of time.' Sign up: AU Breaking News email The Climate Change Authority last year said a preliminary assessment of scientific, economic, technological and social evidence suggested a target of cutting national emissions by at least 65% and up to 75% by 2035 compared with 2005 levels would be ambitious but achievable. Some organisations, including the Climate Council, the Australian Council of Social Service and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, argue Australia should be aiming to reach net zero emissions by 2035 if it is to play its part in keeping global heating as close to 1.5C as possible – a goal enshrined in the legally binding 2015 Paris agreement. Some business groups, including mining company Fortescue, have locked behind a campaign for a minimum 75% reduction target. They face opposition from other industry lobbyists that suggest the government should set a target that would do little more than the legislated 2030 goal of a 43% cut. The Coalition is considering whether it will go further and abandon its support for reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The former Nationals leader, Barnaby Joyce, has tabled a private member's bill that would abolish nearly all of the country's climate policies and commitments, including the net zero target. Stiell said he believed Australians knew unchecked climate change was 'an economic wrecking ball', and that climate disasters were 'already costing Australian homeowners $4bn a year – and that figure is only going one way'. He cited analysis that found the country could lose $6.8tn in GDP by 2050, and living standards could fall by more than $7,000 per person a year. But he said the 'global clean energy race' was under way, with trillions of dollars at stake, and with China and India investing in renewables at a level that was 'off the charts'. He said an ambitious target in Australia could 'anchor future industries – green hydrogen, clean metals, critical minerals – in policies that give investors confidence, give communities certainty [and] create good jobs paying good wages'. He said it would send a message 'so clear the world can't miss it – this country is open for clean investment, trade and long-term partnerships'. Stiell is in Australia as part of a global trip as governments weigh new commitments for 2035 before the Cop30 climate conference in Brazil in November. He arrived in Sydney after visiting Indonesia and Turkey. Turkey is vying with Australia and the Pacific to host next year's Cop31 summit. A decision will need to be made by Cop30, at the latest. It had been expected last year, but the UN operates a consensus process and Turkey has remained in the race despite most members of the deciding group of Western Europe and Other States having declared their support for the Australia-Pacific bid. Stiell was due to visit Canberra on Tuesday for meetings, including with the climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen. He will be joined in the capital by the prime minister of the low-lying Pacific atoll nation of Tuvalu, Feleti Teo, who is speaking at the Australian National University and meeting with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese. More than 80% of Tuvalu's population of about 11,000 have entered a ballot for an Australian permanent residency visa, established as part of a climate-related treaty between the two countries. Under the deal, 280 places will be offered to Tuvalu citizens in the first year.
The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv attack injures five, Trump and Starmer to discuss ‘applying pressure' on Putin
A Russian air attack on Kyiv has injured at least five people and damaged a residential building, the head of the Ukrainian capital's military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, said on Monday via Telegram. British prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine when they meet in Scotland on Monday. Downing Street said the talks would include 'applying pressure' on Russian president Vladimir Putin to end the invasion. The two leaders have built a rapport on the world stage despite their differing political backgrounds, with Trump praising Starmer for doing a 'very good job' in office ahead of their talks on Monday, which will focus on the Middle East and trade. It comes after Trump announced a tariffs deal between the US and the European Union after meeting European commission president Ursula von der Leyen for high-stakes talks at Turnberry on Sunday. Von der Leyen called on Sunday for Volodymyr Zelenskyy to uphold independent anti-corruption bodies, with the Ukrainian president signalling legislation to that effect could be adopted within days. 'Ukraine has already achieved a lot on its European path,' von der Leyen said on X after a call with Zelenskyy. 'It must build on these solid foundations and preserve independent anti-corruption bodies, which are cornerstones of Ukraine's rule of law.' After a rare outburst of public criticism, Zelenskyy on Thursday submitted draft legislation to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies – reversing course on an earlier bill aimed at stripping their autonomy. 'I thanked the European commission for the provided expertise,' Zelenskyy said on X after his Sunday call with von der Leyen. 'We share the same vision: it is important that the bill is adopted without delay, as early as next week.' Von der Leyen also promised continued support for Ukraine on its path to EU membership. Russia scaled down the festivities on Sunday honouring its navy, citing security concerns amid continuing Ukrainian drone attacks. Russian authorities cancelled the parades of warships in St Petersburg, in the Kaliningrad region on the Baltic and in the far-eastern port of Vladivostok that are usually held to mark the annual Navy Day celebrations. Asked about the reason for the cancellation in St Petersburg even as Putin arrived in his home city to visit the navy headquarters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that 'it's linked to the overall situation, security reasons, which are above all else'. The Russian defence ministry said air defences downed 99 Ukrainian drones in several regions overnight. Later in the day, it said another 51 drones were shot down near St Petersburg. A man was killed and three other people injured by drone fragments in the region around St Petersburg, according to local authorities. On the trip to St Petersburg, Putin vowed to build more warships and intensify the navy's training, adding: 'The navy's strike power and combat capability will rise to a qualitatively new level.' French president Emmanuel Macron had a phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday and said later on X that he reaffirmed France's support for Kyiv and vowed to raise pressure on Moscow to force it to 'agree to a ceasefire that paves the way for talks leading to a solid and lasting peace, with full European involvement'.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Popular potato chip brand sold at Coles and Woolworths to end production
A popular potato chip brand has been pulled from the shelves of Australia's two biggest supermarket chains. Outraged snack lovers have noticed that the entire Tyrrells range has quietly disappeared from Coles and Woolworths stores. Coles confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that it no longer stocks the brand and directed customers to contact the supplier for more information. Snackbrands Australia, the makers of Tyrrells, confirmed its demise, citing 'insufficient levels of consumer demand.' 'We always aim to bring delicious snacks to our consumers in line with their needs however we sadly had to retire the Tyrrells brand from the market due to insufficient levels of consumer demand,' a spokesperson said. 'We realise that there will always be true lovers of the brand out there however we need to balance the requirements of our consumers as well as our retail partners when making these tough decisions.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Snackbrands Australia and Woolworths for further comment. Fans took to social media to express their disappointment at not being able to stock up before the range disappeared. 'It's been confirmed from Tyrells that Woolworths, Coles and IGA have stopped stocking these. Gone from their shelves without warning or even clearance tags. Didn't even get a chance to stock up,' a shopper fumed on social media. 'These were f***ing good, made in Australia with Aussie potatoes, and at $3.80 for 165g. Price does what it says, without stupid price hikes and fake offers. 'Maybe Colesworths couldn't deal with a product that didn't play their game?' The post attracted a divided response. 'Damn, that's really disappointing. They were the best chips on the shelves,' a fan wrote. Another added: 'These are the king of chips and I am heartbroken.' Others weren't surprised to hear that the brand had vanished from store shelves. 'Worked at a servo and this brand was always getting thrown out because nobody wanted them, even when marked down for quick sale,' one Aussie wrote. The Tyrrells range is still sold in selected Harris Farm stores. Fans have also spotted the Tyrrells range in IGAs, 7-Eleven and The Reject Shop, as well as online on Amazon. Originally created in Herefordshire in England, manufacturing relocated to Victoria in 2016, following its acquisition of Yarra Valley Snack Foods a year prior. The move created 120 jobs in the Yarra Valley as the region became the first location for Tyrrells' production outside of the UK. 'Yarra Valley was already doing premium potato chips and vegetable crisps like us, and Australia now being one of the foodiest nations on Earth, we think the premium share of the market here will grow' then-chief executive David Milner told the Australian Financial Review at the time.
