Viva la Pasta!

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. This is probably the most popular type of pasta. Sophia Loren has said that she owes everything she has to it. Rossini used a large plate of it to resolve the plot of his opera "L'Italiana in Algeri" (pasta ex machina?). People often struggle to eat it gracefully; the trick is to twirl it around your fork. What am I talking about? Spaghetti Penne Fettuccine Lasagne

2. This cut of pasta resembles the writing end of an old fashioned quill pen, hence its name. It is tubular and cut on the diagonal. Conchiglie Ditalini Penne Ziti

3. Another tubular pasta is named for the grooves, or ridges along its sides which help it hold onto the sauce. Rigatoni Orecchiette Farfalle Conchiglie

4. The name for this pasta translates to "little ears", which they resemble. Orecchiette Lumache Malloreddus Rotini

5. There are two names for this type of pasta, which consists of very thin hollow tubes. When cooked, they resemble thick spaghetti. One name is bucatini (from the word "buco", meaning hole). What is the other name? Vermicelli Tagliatelle Fusilli Perciatelli

6. Which of the following is NOT a stuffed pasta? Tortellini Cappellacci Agnoli Malloreddus

7. This type of spaghetti is handmade on an implement resembling a zither or a box-shaped harp. It has many wires running across. The pasta dough is rolled across and falls through cut into thin strands. What is the name for this type of pasta? Tagliatelle Maltagliati Trenette Pasta alla chitarra

8. This type of pasta is usually made from scraps of dough cut irregularly into triangles. It is principally used in soups. Its name means "badly cut". Which is it? Maltagliati Tagliatelle Malloreddus Trenette

9. "Little worms" and "little tongues" are the rather unappetizing translations of the names of these two pastas. Vermicelli and linguine Fettucicne and linguine Vermicelli and fettuccine Tagliatelle and linguine

10. Of the following, three are types of pasta, the fourth is a name for almond paste. Which one is the odd man out? Pasta Casalinga Pasta alla Chitarra Pasta Grattata Pasta Reale

11. Gnocchi is a type of dumpling which is usually made from potatoes and flour, but can also be made from rice, ricotta cheese, pumpkin, or even bread crumbs. Or they may be flat discs made from a semolino mixture, layered in a pan, and baked with either a sauce or butter and cheese on top. Which is the name for the traditional potato gnocchi? Gnocchi di patate Gnocchi verdi Gnocchi di zucca Gnocchi di riso

12. In what way are tortelloni different from tortellini? Tortelloni are filled with meat, tortellini with cheese. Tortelloni are larger. Tortelloni are made with spinach in the dough. Tortelloni are shaped differently.

13. Bow-tie pasta is known by this name in Italian, which means "butterflies". Pappardelle Capellini Mafalde Farfalle

14. Spaghetti and meatballs is the most common pasta dish served in America. If you wanted to order this in Italian, what would you ask for? Spaghetti con polpette Spaghetti con le vongole Spaghetti con le salsicce Spaghetti con le melanzane

15. Ragu is the brand name of an American brand of pasta sauce, not the name of an actual Italian pasta sauce. True False

16. This sauce is named for the "ladies of the evening". It is quickly prepared and contains tomatoes, peperoncini (small hot peppers), olives, garlic, capers, and anchovies. Which of these is it? Puttanesca Arrabbiata Aglio e' olio Carbonara

17. This meat sauce is named from its city of origin, which is known for the richness of its cuisine. It contains meat, tomatoes, and cream and, as traditionally made, is seasoned with cinnamon. Pugliese Bolognese Carbonara All'aragosta

18. Fettuccine Alfredo, created at the restaurant "Alfredo" in Rome, is popular with American tourists. It was created in the early 1900s by chef Alfredo di Lelio for his wife, who had just given birth. It was later served to the American actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks; they loved it and it became a favorite of visiting celebrities ever since. American versions of this dish are made with an "Alfredo sauce", containing cream, butter, cheese, egg yolk, etc. However the original dish uses only these two ingredients. Double cream (crema doppia) and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Triple butter (triplo burro) and crema doppia (double cream) Triple butter (triplo burro) and grated pecorino Romano Triple butter (triplo burro) and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

19. Pesto, a green herb sauce from Genoa, has become a "trendy" dressing for pasta in America in the past two decades. What are its traditional ingredients? Fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, and grated Pecorino-Romano Fresh basil, olive oil, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and cream Fresh basil, olive oil, fresh garlic, pine nuts, and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Fresh basil, olive oil, grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and butter.

20. Pasta served "all' Arrabbiata" is made with a tomato sauce containing this key ingredient. Lobster Hot crushed pepper Vodka Anchovies

21. Two kinds of fettuccine, regular egg fettuccine and fettuccine verde (green fettuccine made with spinach) are used to make "Paglia e fieno", a dish containing cream, butter, cheese, and possibly prosciutto. What does the name "paglia e fiene" mean in English? Green and yellow Hay and straw Grass and hay Grass and straw

22. If you wanted linguine with clam sauce, you would ask for this in Italy. Linguine alle vongole Linguine alle conchiglie Linguine ai gamberi Linguine alle capesante

23. If you played my "Italian cuisine, A to Z" quiz, you already know this. What is the name for pasta tossed with egg yolk, pancetta (bacon), grated cheese, and cracked black pepper? Bolognese Carbonara All 'amatriciana Puttanesca

24. Pasta "Aglio e olio" traditionally uses these two ingredients. Garlic and butter Olive oil and anchovies Garlic and parsley Olive oil and garlic

25. Cannelloni is a stuffed, tubular pasta; what stuffing and topping is most typically used? A meat filling and a bechamel (white) sauce. A ricotta cheese filling and a tomato sauce. A vegetable filling and a topping of butter and cheese. A meat filling and a topping of tomato sauce.