From Paesana, With Love

Storytelling is a side dish perfectly paired with all food, but especially with Italian meals. As families and friends congregate around tables for hours on end, they often pass around daily anecdotes along with platters of pasta and meat. This is the beauty of dining with Italians—food doesn't merely feed the body, it nourishes the soul in a celebration of life, love and community. Join Paesana as we take you on a journey through the many aspects of our process, from our kitchen to yours.

Penne ala vodka on plate with utensils and tomatoes on the side

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, sauce, Vodka Sauce, penne alla vodka, penne

The Story Behind The Sauce: Vodka

Vodka sauce dishes such as penne alla vodka burst onto the Italian food scene in the 1970s, but did it originate in New York or Italy?

Side by side shots of tortellini and ravioli dishes from overhead

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, pork, Marinara

What’s The Difference Between Ravioli & Tortellini?

Ravioli are square and tortellini are ring shaped, but both make for hearty meals and are filled with cheese, meat, and more.

Fresh Assorted Italian Breads in basket with great lighting

Pasta Sauce, italian food, sauce, cured meat, salami, bread

The Wonder Of Italian Bread

Paesana opens the oven to review the bread of multiple Italian regions.

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, pizza, dry pasta, risotto, polenta

How To Transform Italian Favorites Into Vegan Meals

People who love Italian food, but aren’t so fond of meat have a lot of delicious options.

Closeup of osso buco made of cross cut veal shank with oranges and tomatoes

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, holidays, veal, risotto

Most Romantic Italian Meals

Paesana’s top dishes to cook for someone you love on Valentine’s Day and any other occasion.

Raw pasta - Linguine, Bucatini, Fettucine, Spaghetti

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, fresh pasta, dry pasta

Let’s Talk About Pasta: Spaghetti, Linguine, Fettuccine & Bucatini

Paesana examines the similarities and differences between the long strands of pasta we love to twirl around a fork.

Italian antipasti wine snacks set: cheese variety, Mediterranean olives, pickles, Prosciutto di Parma, tomatoes, artichokes and wine in glasses

Pasta Sauce, italian food, holidays, christmas, pizza, olives, condiments, appetizers

Paesana’s Quick Italian Appetizers

We’ve got some ideas for quick Italian appetizers that are perfect for a small holiday gathering.

Collage of recipes - Chicken Cacciatore, Baked Ziti, Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, thanksgiving, holidays, christmas

The Italian Day Of Rest

Before you start planning your Italian-American Christmas, enjoy simple times in the kitchen with Paesana.

Collage of Pasta Dishes

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, Fra Diavolo, Marinara, spaghetti, rigatoni, penne

Lotsa Pastabilities

Paesana celebrates National Pasta Month with everything you need to know about cooking pasta.

Overhead shot of lasagna dish with olive oil, tomatoes and bread

Pasta Sauce, italian food, chicken, pizza, lasagna, spaghetti, roast chicken

The Very Best Italian Comfort Foods

Paesana believes that food can be a warm hug when times are tough and stress is high.

upclose shot of uncooked penne, ziti and rigatoni

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, dry pasta, rigatoni, penne, ziti

Let’s Talk About Pasta: Comparing Penne, Ziti, and Rigatoni

They look similar, but short-tube pasta, such as penne, ziti, and rigatoni differ in texture, shape, and application.

Homemade marinara sauce in a bowl with basil around it

Pasta Sauce, italian food, Sunday sauce, Marinara

The Story Behind The Sauce: Marinara

Travel back in time with Paesana to learn how Marinara Sauce became an Italian classic.

Sicily Italy landscape with water and homes in background

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, meatballs, antipasti, sardines, meat, regional

Regional Italian Cuisine: Sicily

The Italian island of Sicily is home to some of the most unique and fresh cuisine in the entire country.

Italian Table Setting with people eating scrumptous pasta

Pasta Sauce, italian food, antipasti, italian desserts, al fresco, veal, roast chicken, salad

An Italian Al Fresco Summer Dinner

Adorned with fresh ingredients and bright flavors, an outdoor Italian meal is the perfect summer serenade.

Cooking table with olive oil, cheese and a fresh bowl of pesto sauce

Pasta Sauce, pasta, basil, pesto

Why We Love Pesto Sauce

Bright, green, and pleasantly aromatic, pesto is the pasta sauce of a different color.

Dish with Chicken Parmigiana and Garlic Bread to the left

Pasta Sauce, italian food, chicken, chicken parmigiana

The Story Behind Chicken Parmigiana

How chicken parmigiana became an Italian-American staple in restaurants and home kitchens.

Bolognese: The Allure Of Italian Meat Sauce

Pasta Sauce, meat, bolognese

Bolognese: The Allure Of Italian Meat Sauce

Hearty and deeply flavored, bolognese is the full-bodied pasta sauce you need for a filling meal.

assortment of dishes on a table including fish, spaghetti with seafood, bread

Pasta Sauce, italian food, sauce, holidays, christmas, lobster, seafood, fish, anchovies, Marinara

Feast Of The Seven Fishes: An Italian-American Christmas Eve Legacy

Christmas is the time of traditions—like the Italian-American Feast of the Seven Fishes.

family celebrating thanksgiving

Pasta Sauce, italian food, meatballs, sauce, thanksgiving, holidays

An Italian-American Thanksgiving

More than merely turkey and stuffing, an Italian-American Thanksgiving brings plenty of pasta and sauce to the table.

Jar of Paesana Fra Diavolo Sauce

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, sauce, Fra Diavolo

Fra Diavolo: The Bedeviling Origins Of This Fiery Sauce

Adding red pepper to classic tomato sauce, Fra Diavolo is known for bringing hot and spicy flavor to Italian cuisine.

upclose shot of braciole

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, meatballs, sauce, braciole, Sunday sauce

Why We Love Braciole In A Sunday Sauce

An all-day Sunday sauce needs meat for deeper flavor, and braciole is a delicious option that also happens to bring the family together.

bird eye of view of assorted pasta dishes

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, sauce

Classic Pasta & Sauce Pairings That Are Perfetto Italiano

Pasta and sauce were made for each, especially in these classically legendary Italian dishes.

up close shot of spaghetti with  meatballs

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, meatballs, sauce

An American Meatball

Invented by this country’s first Italian-Americans, the modern-day meatball is a densely packed culinary classic.

Different types of pasta shapes sitting on wooden spatulas

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food

A Brief History of Pasta Shapes & Sizes

Pasta literally comes in hundreds of shapes and sizes, all with varying origin stories. Several well-known types include stringy spaghetti, tube-like rigatoni, shell-shaped cavatelli, and stuffed ravioli, among others.

marinara sauce sitting in a jar container

Pasta Sauce, pasta, italian food, sauce

A Guide To Pasta Sauce

From Marinara and Pomodoro to Alfredo and Carbonara, every pasta sauce is unique. Here’s a savory rundown of some of the most popular, along with brief histories and modern applications of these Italian specialties.