Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta celebrating the World Pasta Month

In Celebration of World Pasta Month

A PASTA FESTA FOR THE PEOPLE

Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta brings a taste of Italy to the Filipino home

Craving for a bit of Italian? The first thing that comes to mind is a big heaping bowl of pasta, covered with your favorite sauce and sprinkled with lots of Parmesan cheese. It is a dish that everyone loves to eat often, that pasta has become a kitchen pantry staple. Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta brings a taste of Italy to the Filipino home with its line of Italian artisanal pasta noodles, made of 100% durum wheat semolina.

Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta is produced according to the tradition of true Italian pasta. There is actually an Italian law prescribing that pasta must be made using 100% durum wheat semolina, which is the hardest of all the wheat varieties and has the highest protein content. It is the use of durum wheat that makes pasta “al dente” or “firm to the bite.” Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta is also made using the traditional bronze die, which gives the noodles ridges, thereby helping the sauce cling better to the noodles for a richer flavor. Plus, Doña Elena uses all natural GMO-free ingredients in its pasta, which makes it really good for you!

Over the years, pasta has become such a favorite dish for Filipinos. In fact, almost every gathering or special occasion isn’t complete without a big platter of spaghetti or baked macaroni. Or maybe even an original recipe using shrimp, Spanish sardines or spicy tuyo. Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta brings the Filipinos’ passion for this versatile noodle to the forefront with the celebration of the World Pasta Month this October. This celebration was initiated in Rome in 1995 with the First World Pasta Congress, and countries all over the world have come up with their own festivities since. After all, pasta is a global food consumed in all continents and is a perfect fit for a dynamic and healthy lifestyle. The campaign and series of events highlight every foodie’s love for pasta and how it has become such an integral part of Pinoy culture. 

 

Stage is set for the Dona Elena Pasta Festa celebration

pretty host Grace Lee

The campaign kicked off with the Doña Elena Al Dente Online Pasta Recipe Contest, which is open to all home cooks and pasta enthusiasts. The mechanics are simple – upload a photo of your pasta dish with your original or favorite recipe made using Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta on Instagram and tag @DonaElenaCuisineraClub with the hashtag #AlDentePastaMonth. Or, give manually submitted entries to www.AlDentePastaMonth.com. Each entry was reviewed and the top 5 dishes are made part of the finals where they will have to cook their dish in front of a live audience of the Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta Festa celebration.

 

Italian Embassy’s Deputy Consul, Mr. Fabio Furlotti

Chef Roberto Bellini, his wife Maria Luisa Bellini and son Roberto Bellini, Jr. - all masters of the kitchen

Chef Roberto Bellini (of the famed Bellini’s Restaurant in CubaoX)

The Pasta-rrific festivity of Doña Elena Al Dente Pasta Festa – World Pasta Month Celebration is to be held on October 9 at the biggest mall this side of the globe, SM Mall of Asia. It is an event catering to pasta enthusiasts, foodies, home cooks and aspiring chefs alike with hefty appetites for pasta! 

Doña Elena Al Dente Online Pasta Recipe Contest finalists will cook in front of the audience

Judges tasting the 5 entrees

The event features an Italian Food Fair, reminiscent of walking thru the food streets of Italy. There are generous pasta samples of Tomato Basil Fusilli Pasta from the Al Dente Ristorante. For those who have the Pasta Passport, they get to enjoy a Pasta Alla Carbonara and Tomato Basil Penne Al Dente pasta meal, a slice of pizza, a drink of sparkling juice, brewed coffee or tea, Italian gelato plus the enjoyment of different gimmicks such as a free massage and side games. It is surely a filling experience – both for the tummy and body.

The lovely host Grace Lee, Chef Ben Bernardo of Café Royal & Pasha, along with Chef Roberto Bellini (of the famed Bellini’s Restaurant in Cubao) share their favorite recipes using true Artisan Quality pasta. The learning-filled cooking demonstration highlights how a great pasta dish starts with using good pasta. 

Doña Elena Al Dente Online Pasta Recipe Contest 5 Finalist Entrees

the winner- Shrimp Puttanesca

There is also the Pasta-rrific Cooking Competition for the Doña Elena Al Dente Online Pasta Recipe Contest finalists, unleashing the best pasta recipe of the season. The lucky winner takes home cash and kitchen appliances, plus the wonderful experience of sharing her celebratory dish. 

Creative gimmicks also amplifies the celebration such as the Pasta Art Workshop which demonstrates making art out of pasta shells, the Pasta Eating Contest, and other Pasta Parlor games. The merriment continues as there are lots of prizes! This fun day of eating and cooking in celebration of the World Pasta Month brings the Filipinos’ favorite dishes made possible by Doña Elena Al Dente, a truly Artisan Quality Italian Pasta!

Fly Ace Corp. Vice President for Marketing Mr. Abraham Cipriano, Jr.

Announcement of grand winner

 1st Dona Elena Pasta Festa grand winner Riza Rae Pineda winning entry is Shrimp Puttanesca

The Doña Elena Pasta Festa- World Pasta Month Celebration is in cooperation with event partners SM Mall of Asia, May Sparkling Juice, Don Henrico’s, Caffe Bene, Gloria Jean’s Coffee, Tecnogas, Fujidenzo, Whirlpool, Cheers, Corelle, Masflex and Ginhawa Spa and Dining. Media partners who supported the event are Food Magazine, Working Mom Magazine, ABS-CBN Lifestyle Hub, WhenInManila.com, theAsianparent Philippines, Business Mirror, Malaya Business Insight, Business World, HerWord.com and Mommy Bloggers Philippines.