The fettuccine alfredo we currently have and commonly know has not always been as it is now. Serving fettuccine with butter and cheese was first in a 15-century recipe for “Roman pasta”. Mentioned by an Italian cook active in Rome. The recipe said to cook the pasta in water or broth and add butter, “good cheese”, and “sweet spices”. The recipe never said what type of cheese or specific spices. Modern Rome fettuccine alfredo was made in Rome by Alfredo Di Lelio, once brought to different locations the taste changed to make it more popular. Alfredo worked in a restaurant run by his mother, and he invented “fettuccine al triplo burro”, later named “fettuccine all’Alfredo” or “fettuccine Alfredo”.
The whole reason fettuccine alfredo was made was to try to find something that seemed appealing for his wife to eat, this was after she had given birth to their first child Armando in 1908. The way that Alfredo tried to make food seem more appealing to his wife was by adding butter and fresh Parmesan. Alfredo’s wife, Ines, was very weak after having their child and Alfredo wanted her to eat so she would regain strength. She ended up quite liking the dish and suggested he add it to the menu of their small restaurant. Part of his success was brought by Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, two famous actors. They were on their honeymoon in Rome when they tried some of Alfredo’s delicious and original dishes. After they tried it they made and gifted him two gold tableware as a tribute to his friendly and warm welcome. The gift was a fork and spoon made of solid gold engraved to say “To Alfredo the King of the noodles”.
Fettuccine alfredo is not served in Italy with the exception of two restaurants. The name “Alfredo sauce” is barely if at all used in Italy, though there are similar pasta sauces. The two restaurants that still have the original taste are “Alfredo alla Scrofa” and “Il vero Alfredo” (the real Alfredo). The restaurant “Il vero Alfredo” is owned by the family, it was owned by Alfredo, then his son Armando (until 1982), now owned by Armando’s son Alfredo III and his sister Ines De Lenlio. This restaurant is popular for North American tourists who want to taste the original alfredo recipe.
I quite enjoy fettuccine alfredo with some chicken. This is one thing I order at some restaurants. I found it quite interesting how the real fettuccine alfredo is nothing like what is known now by Americans, this is an example of something that was americanized. How it was americanized is that it is a lot more creamy in America and made with different ingredients (in order to make it creamy). Another example of this would be pizza, the pizza served in Italy is nothing like the pizza that many Americans know and love. Even if it was americanized, these two are still a couple of my favorite dishes.
Questions -
Do you think that dishes like fettuccine alfredo and pizza should have been americanized the way they were or should they have stayed the same?
Do you think that if the dish hadn’t changed it would be as popular as it is now?
Are there any dishes that don’t change from place to place like how fettuccine alfredo changed from Italy to America?
Links -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fettuccine_Alfredo
https://www.disgracesonthemenu.com/2012/02/italian-myths.html
Replies
I think they should have stayed the same. Many foods have changed so much from country to country to make things more simple. I like our alfredo but it could be better. I think the dish would be equally as popular if it hadn't changed. I think our alfredo could be better. We get lazy with cooking.
The problem with dishes staying the same is that if it had then many Americans wouldn't have one of their favorite foods. I do not think that it would be popular if it hadn't changed. Think about how it didn't take off in Itialy, how would htey take off in America? I also think it might not be laziness because there are some foods that take lots of time that Americans don't like. The reason it was changed was so that more Americans like it.
I think if it tastes good then it shouldn't matter if its bad or not that it changed from the original. I don't think it would be as popular if it didn't change because it was said that he changed it to make it taste better. That means people wouldn't like the original as much.
I agree that it tastes good but I do not agree that it is fine that it changed from the original. I doubt that it would be popular at all if it didn't change. I think that they way that it was changed made it more likely for Americans to like.
I don't think that if the dish hadn’t changed it would be as popular as it is now. I think this because it has become more popular after the changes. I think that any dish will be americanized if it gets put into fast food or a big restaurant chain. I don't think that there are any dishes that don't change going from country to country.
I agree it would not have very much popularity if it hadn't been changed. Also many foods are changed once served at restaurants sometimes they are just changed to make it quicker or easier to make in larger amounts or to save time. I think that there aren't any dishes that don't change but I am curious if there is any, because there are some things served in many places but not made the same.
I don't think that the Americanized version has anything wrong with it. One of my favorite dinners is fettuccine alfredo and I've never had the original Italian version. I personally think that the dishes should not be changed. Frankly, as long as it tastes good, I don't care.
Yes I agree that it is very good and it is one of my favorites also. However I think the big thing about having it Americanized is that people don't always realize it and some tourists go to Italy and even try to order it because they associate it with beging from Italy however it is not sever there.
I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with the "Americanized" dishes. Yes, if you're Italian, you probably don't enjoy the Americanization of these dishes, but there's nothing wrong with it. If the dishes hadn't changed I still think that those dishes would be popular, but not as much.
But how it is fair that so many people think that stuff that is Italian isn't actually Italian. I think that if there was "American" dishes in other places that were completely different than how it is in America, then that is not honoring the dishes. Yes it won't be as popular but it will be true, and I think some people don't even realize that what we call Italian isn't really turly Italian.
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