Barilla & I: A Partnership to Share Some of The Best of Italy

Around the age of 18 years old I discovered Italy. It was my first visit to Europe. I had taken a few lessons in the language, had read a few books, watched a few movies, but none of it would ever prepare me for the experience that was Italy for the first time for me.

I landed in Northern Italy at the time, and hung out mostly in a town called Brescia, a smaller town/village in the mountains of Northern Italy, about an hour from Milan.

To think of my time there almost seems like a dream, it always felt like I was in one. What impacted me the most about the Italian people I met was their passion, for just about everything, but during my time there, and at such a young age, what I remember most is the passion for food and family.

Food was a huge experience for me. The pasta used in so many variations and forms, the breads, the coffee, and yes, even things as basic as the soups. Truly no experience like it. I still say till this day that it was there, in the mountainside of Northern Italy that I tasted the best white lasagna dish I have ever had in my entire life.

It is no surprise then that only an hour South of Brescia is also the birth place of Barilla, in Parma. A business that was started over 100 years ago by Pietro Barilla and went from a small pasta and bread shop to the leading Italian food producer it is today.

I have so much faith in the Barilla products, mainly because I experienced the passion and respect for food first-hand from the people in the area, that it is the number one Italian food product in my own home.

Thus, it is with great pride and honor that I announce serving as a Barilla Blogger Ambassador, and in my role, I will share with you a lot of exciting things that Barilla will have going on within the next few weeks here in New York City.

I will be sharing details on some fun events, all celebrating Italian foods and flavors, such as special cooking classes, Italian food truck festivals, Italian food pop-ups across all five boroughs, and even giving away tickets to experience Andrea Bocelli in concert at Central Park!

Today, Barilla hosted an exclusive media event giving a select few a taste of what’s to come. Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni prepared a special luncheon to give guests a taste of Barilla, serving a delicious Barilla Spaghetti Rigati with ripe heirloom tomatoes and pistachio aromatic herb pesto.

Make sure to follow @BarillaUS on Twitter and Barilla US on Facebook, as well as myself, @NYCityMama on Twitter and The Adventures of a NYCityMama on Facebook to stay informed on all the great things to come and amazing and fun giveaways planned!

My Italian may have gotten rusty over the years and too many more years have passed since I have visited my beloved town of Brescia, but I will never forget the people I met there, the friends I made, the incredible hospitality and especially the wonderful food I tasted along the way. It is why Italy remains one of my favorite places in the entire world, and it is why I am so excited to be a part of bringing a taste of it to you!

Disclosure: I have entered into a paid partnership with Barilla to help promote and bring awareness to special events going on in New York City in the next few weeks. Events promoted will be based on personal experiences when possible and giveaways and contests are sponsored by Barilla. All opinions are strictly my own.

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Tags: Events, food, nyc
Posted in Good Eats | 2 Comments »