Review: Giada De Laurentiis' Exceptional New Pasta Line Offers A Taste Of Italy In A Box
Giada De Laurentiis is an Emmy award-winning television personality, restaurateur, author, and celebrity chef superstar. In 2017, she created a lifestyle and e-commerce platform known as Giadzy. Along with recipes, entertaining and travel tips, and videos, Giadzy also features myriad Italian gourmet ingredients and kitchen products sourced from small or family-owned producers from every corner of Italy.
Each producer specializes in the delicacies of the region from which it hails. Items ranging from flour and pasta to tomatoes, oils, vinegar, sweets, and more can be purchased directly from Giadzy and shipped straight to your home, where they can be transformed into the ultimate authentic Italian meal, spreading la dolce vita.
One specialty highlighted by Giadzy is gourmet pasta. Minimally processed and produced from semolina flour, these artisanal pasta offerings are air-dried and formed into unique shapes, each with a distinct history and ideal preparation method. While I did not get to sample all of the pasta varieties sold by Giadzy, I did get the chance to savor three varieties from the organic collection — Manfredi Lunghi, Nodi Marini, and Paccheri. I evaluated them on aroma, texture, flavor, and overall quality. Read on for details and tasting notes about each and to see if these kinds of pasta are as delectable as their price tags suggest.
This review is based on first-hand impressions of promotional materials and products provided by the manufacturer/distributor/etc.
What does the Organic Manfredi Lunghi Pasta taste like?
The Manfredi lunghi is a distinctive, lengthy, flat noodle with dainty ruffled edges. Often known as mafaldine or reginette (or "little queens"), this pasta has been a mainstay of Naples for over 100 years. The name Manfredi is a tribute to the Princess Mafalda of Savoy, born in 1902. This pasta averages 22 inches in length, typical of hand-crafted pasta made before production was mechanized. The pasta is intended to be broken before it is boiled to al dente perfection in approximately eight minutes.
The size of the box this pasta arrived in was intimidating. I was initially unsure how to cook it as the packaging only gave instructions about how long to cook the pasta and how much salt to add to the water. That said, I noticed some of the noodles in the box were already broken, so I went ahead and snapped the longer pieces in half before adding them to the boiling water. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente within nine minutes, a bit longer than recommended.
The texture of this pasta was chewy but not crunchy, with the ribbed edges creating perfect little pockets within which a tomato sauce or alfredo can settle. The aroma of this pasta is nutty and fresh. The flavor was simple, clean, and slightly sweet. The only downside to this pasta is that I am unsure where to store it. That said, it is delectable.
What does the Organic Nodi Marini Pasta taste like?
Nodi marini, or "sailor's knots," are a funky spiral-shaped pasta purported to resemble the complex rope knots all sailors know how to tie. This pasta often appears under different monikers, including molloni, or "springs," in Puglia, and Vesuvio in Naples, an homage to the famous volcano that destroyed Pompeii in A.D. 79. Whatever they call it, I call it delicious.
This pasta took about 12 minutes to cook to the ideal al dente. I was rather impressed that none of the little spirals tore or fell apart during the cooking process, maintaining their festive form. While the flavor of this pasta was identical to the Manfredi lunghi, the texture was markedly different. They retain an almost creamy quality, making them more luscious when you bite into them, which suited my palate well.
The unique shape of this pasta makes it ideally suited for chunky sauces, like a ragu or Bolognese, with each curve clinging to morsels of meat or vegetables. The pasta would also lend itself to a simple preparation of sautéed vegetables cut into smaller portions roughly proportional to the nodi marini. If I had to pick a favorite of the three pasta types I sampled, I would choose the nodi marini. There is nothing more fun than a noodle that looks like a slinky and tastes like butter.
What does the Organic Paccheri Pasta taste like?
Resembling squat, petite cannelloni, paccheri pasta gets its name from the sound it makes when it is sauced. Translated to "slap," this Neapolitan pasta has a colorful history. In the 1600s, Italian garlic was outlawed by the king of Prussia, who was keen on boosting local garlic production. The clever citizens of Campania skirted this law by tucking cloves of Italian garlic inside tubes of paccheri, ensuring the garlic trade remained alive and well.
Fascinating history aside, this pasta is dynamite. I was unsure what to anticipate from its final shape when cooked, which took about 14 minutes. They become flat, like little pillowcases. Again, I was impressed that none of the noodles tore or cracked during the cooking process.
The flavor and texture of paccheri is similar to the other two pasta types sampled but with a distinctive, meaty savoriness that makes it robust. True to their name, the noodles slap you in the face as you slurp them into your mouth. They are messy but delicious, particularly when paired with a simple sauce of sautéed garlic in extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, and authentic grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Nutritional information for Giadzy Organic Pasta
Giadzy pasta was developed under the careful supervision of Giada De Laurentiis after exploring pasta-making methods from across Italy. This pasta is artfully produced in Abruzzo, a region located on the central east coast of the country. Home to vast parklands and the Majella mountain range, this lush area produces fresh spring water and pristine organic semolina flour from which this pasta is made. Giadzy's production facility used 100-year-old bronze dies, which produce pasta that has an uneven texture ideal for trapping sauces. These artisanal pasta shapes are air-dried for approximately 36 hours, creating a firm mouthfeel and subtle taste.
All three of these pasta types have identical nutritional information. There are nine servings per package, each containing 190 calories, 1 gram of fat, 38 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, and 6 grams of protein. In addition to wheat, these products indicate they may contain soy.
Where to buy Giadzy Organic Pasta and how much will it cost?
Giadzy Organic Pasta is only available from its website. Individual 1.1-pound boxes of pasta cost $10.50 each and ship within 1-2 business days. Giadzy products can be shipped to all U.S. addresses, including Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Virgin Islands. Shipping is not available to P.O. Boxes. Products are carefully packaged in elegant custom boxes made from recyclable materials. Gift orders and gift cards are also available for purchase.
Giadzy also offers a monthly subscription program. Two packages are available: the Pantry Staple Box and the Recipe of the Month Box. The Pantry Staple Box includes one pasta, a tomato or sauce, either jam, honey, or an antipasti product, and a specialty item exclusively selected by Giada. The Recipe of the Month Box contains a recipe, instructions, and exclusive ingredients for a classic Giada creation. These boxes cost $55-$65 per month, depending on what is included on any given month, plus shipping.
Final Thoughts
As a chef and pasta snob, I am always searching for a premium quality artisanal pasta that cooks well, has the perfect al dente texture without being overly chewy, and tastes fresh. I admit that when this box of pasta arrived, I was captivated by the fancy packaging but also slightly suspicious of what might be inside. Sometimes, fancy packaging is a cover-up for an inferior quality product.
That was not the case here. This pasta is as good as any premium pasta I have ever cooked. I would be willing to pit it against freshly made pasta from any fine dining establishment. The one-of-a-kind shape of each variety of pasta and the overall experience of making and eating these noodles are a delight, especially if you have been to Italy like I have. Italians take pasta very seriously, and nothing but the best will suffice.
Though you may pay a bit more for this pasta, particularly when you factor in shipping costs, if you are making a dinner for a special occasion and looking for something to impress your guests, you may want to consider stocking up. I would be interested in sampling some of the other products carefully sourced by Giadzy. If they are half as good as this pasta, I would likely consider a subscription for myself or a loved one. This pasta is molto bene and inspires me to live la dolce vita.