Barilla’s New Piccolini: Mini Wagon Wheel Pasta
When I think of the success of the Mini Cooper or the Smart car across the pond, I realize how much those Europeans love everyday essentials in miniature. And now Italian pasta company Barilla takes the trend one step further with its Piccolini, five old pasta shapes that newly come in "mini-me" sizes.
To go with the little cars, Barilla now makes little wheels, my absolute favorite, but hard to find, pasta shape. When craving wagon wheels, I have to walk to the gourmet market to buy De Cecco's, but the trip is a hassle when I want a quick pasta dinner, and frankly, no matter how much I try to retain their al dente integrity, they come out mushy.
Barilla, however, has brought wagon wheels to my everyday supermarket, and promises that its pasta remains "always perfectly al dente," saving me, like those European cars, a good deal of precious energy. Looks like my little wheels have finally entered the fast (checkout) lane.
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7 Comments:
AwwwwWWW how cute! Barilla does make good pasta.
I think I saw the TV commercial with the Chef cooking his "son" the mini ones?
hungrychristel at 2:55PM on 10/07/08
I think this will be a good pasta for kids. They will like the shape. Or for chicken soup.
kobetobiko at 3:42PM on 10/07/08
I love making wagon wheels with either creamy sauces or pesto sauces. I do a bechamel with roquefort, and top it all with chopped walnuts, parsley, and parmesan. Or maybe toss with opal basil pesto, and top with black olive tapenade? Yum! I guess I'm still a kid at heart, because I just love these.
Kerry Saretsky at 3:51PM on 10/07/08
I buy wagon wheels every time I see them, because I don't see them often. I'll be looking for the mini ones. Just because it's smaller, doesn't mean it has to be for kids.
dbcurrie at 6:55PM on 10/07/08
i have been buying these tiny pasta shapes for a few months now since they appeared in my market. barilla is my standard supermarket brand pasta anyway, and it is often on sale--sometimes for as little as a dollar a pound.
carriebwc at 9:50AM on 10/08/08
The new little bow-tie shape (farfalle) are prefect for kasha varnishkes
Delorenzosfan at 12:12PM on 10/08/08
Update, everyone! I made these last night with a garlic cream sauce and green veggies. They did, in fact, stay completely al dente, and held their shape. Their spokes didn't collapse on my fork. They were, in short, absolutely perfect--even better than the big ones. I did notice that in both my New York, and my Florida, supermarkets, that the wheels were the only Piccolini available. Where have you all seen the other shapes: ziti, penne, farfalle, fusilli?
Kerry Saretsky at 9:38AM on 10/09/08