The History of Spaghetti Bolognese

A significant number of tourists usually focus their Italy travels on the watery city of Venice, the old city of Rome and around the historic, artistic and beautiful town of Florence. While others would love to spend some time drinking wine in Tuscany's rolling hills, very few would want to head to Bologna. However, this narrative is changing thanks to the broad range of culinary options that the city of Bologna guarantees. As more and more travelers continue to discover Bologna's culinary prowess, this beautiful city could yet become the top tourist attraction in Italy in the coming years. In fact, Bologna is the only city in Italy where travelers can eat well and then board a train or even a plane to almost anywhere! Thanks to its strategic geographic location in Emilia Romagna, which is arguably Italy's major food hub, Bologna boasts some of the country's best cuisine. Though not considered an authentic Bolognese dish, Spaghetti Bolognese has gained lots of popularity worldwide. This particular dish is craved for and equally appreciated by both locals and foreigners who believe they are eating a typical Italian recipe. That being said, Spaghetti Bolognese isn't a native Italian dish as most people believe. This delicious pasta is more-so preferred by German and British families. In fact, in a particular study in 2014, Spaghetti Bolognese was ranked the third most popular dish eaten by German expats, especially at their places of work. The same study revealed that it's currently the second most popular food in British homes.

So what's the history behind Spaghetti Bolognese?

It should be noted that the origin of pasta Bolognese does not involve spaghetti at all. Instead, the name comes from an initial recipe in Bologna, involving Tagliatelle and a rich ragù. In Italy, ragù is a term used to describe a type of meat sauce that has been cooked for many hours over low heat. Each ragù boasts numerous ingredients, which varies from region to region. In fact, "alla bolognese" is only one of the many different ragùs prepared in Italy. It is somewhat difficult to trace the origins of this popular Italian dish. While most of the world believes that Spaghetti Bolognese originated from Bologna, it's really just a myth. According to Lepore Matteo, a city council member of Marketing for Bologna, the city intends to use the false myth surrounding the origin of Spaghetti Bolognese to their advantage, using it to connect Bologna ambassadors abroad. Lepore adds that they can also make good use of the ingredients that may actually have Bologna origins, even though such products have not helped to promote Bologna that much. While this special Italian cuisine continues to attract attention from all corners of the world, the origins of Spaghetti Bolognese still remains a mystery.

How to make Bolognese ragù sauce

Bolognese ragù starts with a sofrito, which is a mixture of carrots, celery, and onions which are carefully chopped and sautéed with some olive oil and butter. Large chunks of beef are then seared on high heat to extract the juices which are then added to the sofrito. White wine is then added to enhance the flavor of the meat. Finally, everything is left to simmer for hours, until the meat starts to fall apart.

Join us at Cucina Venti for the best Bolognese Pasta in Silicon Valley

There are many popular Bolognese recipes, but for the best Bolognese in Mountain View, join us tonight at Cucina Venti. Our Pappardelle Bolognese dish is made with fresh Pappardelle pasta, in our traditional, savory meat sauce, topped with micro-basil. It's an absolute must-have on the Cucina Venti menu! Book your reservations with the widget below, and find our Italian Restaurant at 1390 Pear Ave Suite D, Mountain View, CA 94043.