Childhood comfort foods can stay with us for life. And when they are discontinued....brand name, watch out.
Ronzoni brand pastina is Italian heritage comfort food, and my spouse, who grew up near New York City, was raised on it. I grew up in New York City and my non-Italian Mom served Ronzoni pasta (usually elbow macaroni) to me.
But there was bad news over the weekend - Ronzoni claims their manufacturer is discontinuing it this month and they will have to stop selling it. Petitions to Ronzoni have sprung up online.
Say it isn't so, thousands of upset consumers are saying!
So what is pastina? It is a small, star shaped pasta that is wonderful in soup, or as an easy to eat food when you are sick or even a little bit under the weather.
My spouse used to make it for our son and it couldn't be simpler. You cook the pastina (it takes about five minutes), drain, return it to the pot, and stir in a raw scrambled egg and some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until blended. The egg should be cooked but still wet.
I didn't grow up in an Italian household but I remember eating my spouse's pastina dish years ago.
You can also make a simple soup.
You Tube has lots of instructional videos. My spouse likes to watch ciao Italia, so I'm posting this video. It couldn't be simpler.
Pastina even made it to The Sopranos.
It would seem that there are a couple of other brands of pastina out there. It's interesting that Ronzoni was sold last year - and now, this. Ronzoni is certainly finding out how popular their product is. It's all over the national news here in the United States.
I hope they find another source quickly. This publicity is not doing the brand any good.
What was your childhood comfort food? Pastina? Or something else?
...this has never hit my radar screen.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in an Italian household but I never ate pastina the way you describe. Usually, it was just in the chicken soup my mom made. Our comfort food was risi e bisi, a more soupy risotto with peas. I have never been able to make it like my mother, though actually having a recipe (she never used one) would help.
ReplyDeleteAnother Pastina dish … I eat it with milk and butter, like hot cereal. Fortunately there are other brands.
ReplyDeleteHere’s the recipe we use
ReplyDeletehttps://www.mysequinedlife.com/classic-italian-pastina/
I don't quite understand the uproar online. That's just one company discontinuing it, not the shape itself disappearing. I wonder, as I do whenever things are discontinued and people complain, just how often these people were buying it to begin with? If something sells well for a company, they don't quit selling it. I wasn't aware of what pastina was, and looked it up. I guess Ronzoni called their star shaped pasta that, however Wikipedia says ANY tiny pasta (pastina meaning little pasta). The things I learn online!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any childhood comfort food.
I have never heard of this, but then again, I have no Italians in the family. It's disconcerting when a favorite product gets discontinued. They must believe that the market is shrinking, or something.
ReplyDeleteHi Alana - well the recipe tempts me ... sad about the company - though I'm afraid we're going to lose quite a few in the next few months/years ... I just hope we don't lose the traditions and people start up again ... we lose the history too - cheers ... I'll try this sometime ... Hilary
ReplyDeleteMy childhood missed this. I want a do-over!
ReplyDeleteI heard about this! So shocking!! (I am Sicilian) Carol C
ReplyDelete