Pasta Carbonara Becomes ‘Inclusive’ and People Aren’t Happy
Pasta Carbonara is sacred to Italians, so it’s very important to make it properly. Cream is of course out of the question, because it absolutely does not belong in it (and you shouldn’t make these Carbonara mistakes either). During my student days, I regularly ate it that way, but then again: I knew very little about cooking anyway. No, you don’t want to get in between Italians and their pasta.
Barilla did exactly that, and what’s more, it’s an Italian brand. They published a campaign video for their ‘Open Carbonara’.
‘Food should bring people together, not divide them’
That is the slogan of this new campaign, which advocates a Carbonara that everyone can eat. A lovely thought, really — but this execution isn’t exactly being appreciated. This version is supposed to be vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free, as well as kosher and halal. A pasta Carbonara that is all of those things? In my opinion, it doesn’t sound particularly tasty, but then again: in the campaign video it actually looks pretty okay.
For example, they replace the eggs with finely ground potatoes (with some saffron), while the cheese is replaced with celery. It may still look quite good, but I’m a little worried about the taste. In what world does celery taste like Pecorino, and saffron like egg?
Social media isn’t happy
And that was of course somewhat to be expected, because once again: pasta is sacred. And as beautiful as Barilla’s message may be, people don’t see themselves in it: ‘As if you’re excluding everyone who isn’t allowed to eat that by eating a regular carbonara,’ someone said on Twitter, for example. Well, honestly: why not simply make the people who want to eat vegan, halal, gluten-free and so on the very best Pasta Aglio e Olio? Then you have a delicious dish and don’t have to serve up potato-saffron Carbonara. Seems better for everyone to me.
So definitely points for the idea – although some people here in the newsroom find the wokeness absolutely dreadful – but the execution… I think I’ll skip it for now.
Read also:
- Recipe: Gordon Ramsay’s quick scampi pasta
- Sergio Herman’s Frites Atelier launches Creamy Carbonara & Thai Chicken fries
- 9 tips from chefs for the best, simplest pasta
Image: Barilla
