AL Pacino Favorite Pasta - Recipe

 

AL PACINO

"HE LOVES SPAGHETTI AGLIO e OLIO"

This is one of Al Pacino’s favorites. When I was the Wine Director at Barbetta Ristorante in New York City, whenever Al came into the restaurant, he would often ask if we could make him a plate as it wasn’t on the menu. “Al literally made us an offer we couldn’t refuse,” naturally we didn’t, and we always gave Mr. Pacino a  plate of his beloved Spaghetti Aglio Olio, just the way he liked it. “You’re welcome Al.”

Note : Again, this is another classic dish of Cucina Povera (poor man’s cuisine). It is loved by millions of Italians, and their Italian-American cousins in America. People like AL and me. Basta.

Ingredients :

8 ounces imported Italian Spaghetti

7 tablespoons Olive Oil

5 cloves of Garlic, peeled and minced

½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

2 tablespoons fresh chopped Parsley (optional)

Note : Make sure to use a good quality imported Italian Spaghetti, and Italian Olive Oil.

Fill a 3-4 quart pot ¾ full of water and add 1 teaspoon Sea Salt. Turn heat to high and bring the water to the boil.

Add olive oil and the garlic to a large frying pan. Cook on low heat until the garlic just starts to brown. Turn the heat off. Add the red pepper and stir.

Drop the spaghetti into the boiling water. Cook, following the directions on the box (about 10 minutes).

When the spaghetti is finished cooking, drain it into a colander, reserving about ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.

Place the drained spaghetti into the pan with the garlic and anchovies. Toss and mix the spaghetti so it is completely coated with the sauce. Add a little of the parsley and a little of the pasta cooking water if needed. Mix everything together.

Plate the spaghetti on two plates, dividing it evenly.  Sprinkle on the remaining Parsley. Serve immediately. Does not require cheese.

Note : To make classic Spaghetti Aglio Olio (Spaghetti w/ Garlic & Oil), make the dish exactly the same as above, and leave out the Anchovies, and you have one of Al Pacino’s favorite things to eat, Spaghetti Aglio Olio.

This has been Excerpted from POSITANO The MALFI COAST COOKBOOK / TRAVEL GUIDE by Daniel Bellino Zwicke, due November 29, 2020

POSITANO The AMALFI COAST COOKBOOK

/ TRAVEL GUIDE .. November 29, 2020 AMAZON .com

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AL PACINO in FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA'S The GODFATHER

At LOUIE'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT in The BRONX

This is known as the SOLLOZZO Scene