Pasta diplomacy finds a place in Karachi

Italian Consul General hosts 'Unite Through Pasta' event

KARACHI:

Italian Consul General Fabrizio Bielli and his wife, Negar, invited Karachiites to a "Unite Through Pasta" event on Wednesday to mark Italian Pasta Day, observed globally on October 25 to celebrate a culinary tradition that has brought people together around the table for generations.

Speaking on the occasion, Bielli said it was particularly joyful to celebrate the event in Pakistan, a country renowned for its legendary hospitality and rich culinary heritage. He said some might wonder why a diplomat was standing before them to speak about a simple dish made from dough and water.

"The most profound diplomacy does not always happen in grand assembly halls or over formal treaties. Quite often, it happens around a dinner table. Food is a universal language, and carries our histories, our values, and our identities," he added.

Bielli told the guests that the olive oil used in the pasta served that evening had been extracted from olives grown in Pakistan. He described it as a testament to more than a decade of cooperation, made possible through Italy's valuable support, expertise and technical assistance.

"It is a wonderful example of how international collaboration can nurture local potential, promote agricultural development, and create lasting connections between our countries," the consul general said.

Commenting on the hundreds of distinct pasta shapes recognised worldwide, he said: "Pasta serves as a beautiful metaphor for our diplomatic community. It reminds us that while our traditions and methodologies may differ, our core human needs and aspirations remain identical."

He added: "Let us allow tonight's celebration to inspire our work. Let it remind us that unity does not require uniformity. Just as disparate ingredients come together to create a harmonious dish, our diverse nations can collaborate to build a more connected, stable, and peaceful world."

Established in 1995, Italian Pasta Day is observed globally on October 25, celebrating a food tradition recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage. Pasta is regarded as a culinary link between civilisations, transcending geographical, linguistic and cultural boundaries.

Interestingly, people in the East consumed pasta made from wheat as far back as 4,000 years ago. During the Middle Ages, oriental traders introduced it to Sicily, where it eventually became a key pillar of the Mediterranean diet.

Today, around 600 pasta shapes are used in cuisines worldwide. A versatile, carbohydrate-rich food, pasta features on the menus of high-end, Michelin-starred restaurants as well as in modest home kitchens, offering an affordable source of energy.

Although many Pakistani households regularly prepare long pasta, particularly spaghetti, almost all use thin vermicelli, known locally as seviyan, to make the traditional milk-based dessert sheer khurma for Eidul Fitr. Many food enthusiasts in Karachi are also familiar with filled pasta varieties such as ravioli and tortellini.