Named after its creator - Alfredo di Lelio, owner of a restaurant on the Via Della Scrofa in Rome – it is one of the most loved Italian dishes in the US.
A dish created to treat a wife
This "white pasta" is one of the most loved Italian dishes in the US. Did you also know that they are not so popular in their homeland? Is one of the world's most appreciated Italian dishes. Fettuccine Alfredo can be considered the "comfort food" par excellence. Fettuccine Alfredo are named after their creator, Alfredo di Lelio, owner of a beloved restaurant in the heart of Rome, on Via Della Scrofa. Fun fact, this pasta was created in 1914 to gently cure the upset stomach of Ines, Alfredo's wife, who was pregnant at the time (or had just given birth; there are two different versions of the story). It is very common in Italy to offer those with stomach aches some white pasta (we call it "pasta in bianco") without red sauce. To the salted and boiled pasta, Alfredo added parmesan cheese and butter. Needless to say, Ines loved the creaminess of this dish, and Alfredo decided to add it to his restaurant menu. Alfredo's secret? He prepared the sauce withtriple cream butterand richParmigiano-Reggianocut from the center of the cheese wheel.
Discovered on a honeymoon
No one paid too much attention to the new dish until 1920 when Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, two famous movie stars, arrived in Rome on their honeymoon. Douglas and Mary dined at Alfredo's and ordered the white fettuccine. They loved the dish and asked Alfredo for the recipe. And so the fame of this dish "took flight" to the United States. The two actors returned to Rome in 1927 and gave Alfredo the gift of a golden fork and spoon on which was the eloquent engraving: "to Alfredo the King of the noodles." The press loved the story; consequently, Alfredo's fame spread worldwide.
Can Fettuccine Alfredo be included in the list of Italian specialties?
There's still a vigorous debate over whether or not Fettuccine Alfredo can be considered an authentic Italian dish. Alfredo's original Italian recipe only contains three ingredients: fettuccine, Parmesan cheese, and triple-cream butter. The point is that once it arrived in the US, it was transformed into a different dish, including many rich ingredients like flour, cream, and milk, but also proteins like shrimp or chicken. So, if you come on vacation to Italy, order "pasta con burro e Parmigiano," it will be the closest thing to the original Fettuccine Alfredo. "Simplicity, said Leonardo da Vinci, is the ultimate sophistication, and, with the possible exception of the Martini, nowhere is that more the truth than with fettuccine all'Alfredo, for which we have an origins story, so we know exactly what goes into the dish - says John Mariani on Forbes in a very interesting article on the history of this beloved pasta - Which is: Fettuccine, butter and Parmigiano-Reggiano. What? No cream? No cream. No parsley? No parsley. Elimination of these last two ingredients is not just preference, it is Italian culinary history, so here goes."
FAQs
After her second pregnancy, Alfredo's wife was very weak and eventually fell ill. Concerned about her wellbeing, the chef decided to prepare a restorative dish: something nourishing and appealing to the palate, but not too heavy on the stomach. He came out with a dish of fresh-egg fettuccine with butter and parmesan.
What is the story behind Fettuccine Alfredo? ›
Alfredo di Lelio, an Italian restaurateur, created Fettuccine Alfredo in 1908. After his wife had given birth to their first son that year, she did not have an appetite. To help encourage her to eat, he created a dish of noodles, cheese and butter.
What is the story of Alfredo? ›
Alfredo di Lelio, a Roman restaurateur who was popular among American tourists, named his butter and cheese linguine after himself. These tourists came back to the US and introduced the dish as Lelio named it, Alfredo.
When was Alfredo di Lelio born? ›
Alfredo di Lelio, inventor of the fettuccine that bears his name, was born in Rome in 1883 and got his start at the family restaurant in Piazza Rosa, which later vanished to make room for the shopping arcade now known as Galleria Sordi.
Where is the restaurant where Fettuccine Alfredo was invented? ›
Alfredo alla Scrofa is an Italian restaurant in Rome, Italy, which opened in 1914 and is known as the birthplace of fettuccine Alfredo.
Why not order Fettuccine Alfredo in Italy? ›
In the United States, there are many variations of fettuccine Alfredo, but the one that makes Italians raise their eyebrows the most is undoubtedly the addition of chicken to this creamy sauce. In Italy, traditionally speaking, you would never ever mix chicken with pasta!
What is an interesting fact about Fettuccine Alfredo? ›
Simple: a man named Alfredo di Lelio invented it. Di Lelio came up with this famous dish right here in Rome in 1908. Legend says that his wife had lost her appetite after giving birth, so he came up with this simple but delicious pasta recipe.
What does Alfredo mean in Italian? ›
Origin:Italian. Meaning:Elf counselor. Alfredo is a masculine name of Italian and Spanish origins. Coming from the Old English name Alfred, it translates to “elf counselor” and is a wonderful choice to connect baby with their mythical spirit.
Do they eat Fettuccine Alfredo in Italy? ›
Fettuccine Alfredo, minus the spectacle, has now become ubiquitous in Italian-style restaurants outside Italy, although despite its worldwide renown, in Italy this dish is usually still called simply fettuccine al burro.
Who is the woman Alfredo was about to marry? ›
Answer. Answer: Dead Stars is a short story of an over thirty years old bachelor, Alfredo Salazar who was about to get married to his fiancée, Esperanza. His love and passion for his fiancé started getting fade as he was attracted to another woman named Julia Salas.
the Difference Between Alfredo and Fettuccine? Alfredo is the Italian-American white sauce we all know and love. Fettuccine is the long, skinny pasta most of us like to enjoy with our Alfredo sauce.
Who invented butter noodles? ›
The origin of buttered noodles is disputed. Everywhere from China to Rome to Germany claims to have invented the simple dish. What we do know for certain is that buttered noodles embody the simple everyday comforts so many seem to enjoy—no matter their cuisine or culture.
When did Alfredo drop? ›
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist released Alfredo on May 29, 2020.
What is the story of Fettuccine Alfredo? ›
After her second pregnancy, Alfredo's wife was very weak and eventually fell ill. Concerned about her wellbeing, the chef decided to prepare a restorative dish: something nourishing and appealing to the palate, but not too heavy on the stomach. He came out with a dish of fresh-egg fettuccine with butter and parmesan.
What is the real name for Fettuccine Alfredo? ›
Fettuccine Alfredo is an Italian pasta dish consisting of fresh or dried fettuccine tossed with butter and Parmesan cheese until it emulsifies, creating a rich, creamy sauce. In Italy, it is called fettuccine al burro, fettuccine al burro e parmigiano or pasta al burro e parmigiano.
Is pasta Alfredo healthy? ›
A typical portion of this decadent dish has 1200 calories, 75 grams of fat, 47 grams of saturated fat and gives you more than half a day's worth of sodium. Yikes! Looking at a recipe, it's not hard to figure out why. The star ingredients are buckets of heavy cream, butter, cheese and mountains of pasta.
What is the history of the name Alfredo? ›
Alfredo is a masculine name of Italian and Spanish origins. Coming from the Old English name Alfred, it translates to “elf counselor” and is a wonderful choice to connect baby with their mythical spirit.
Is Fettuccine Alfredo authentically Italian? ›
Fettuccine Alfredo, it turns out, is 100% Italian. To be fair, the original recipe is quite different from whatever you may find in the States. Italians have been eating Fettuccine Alfredo for over a century… They just didn't know that's what it was called!
What is the meaning of pasta Alfredo? ›
Meaning of Alfredo in English
a smooth sauce made from butter, cheese and sometimes cream and other ingredients, which is often eaten with pasta: I put the pasta into bowls and poured Alfredo sauce over it.
Why is fettuccine called fettuccine? ›
Fettuccine is a type of pasta that means "little ribbons" in Italian. This flat pasta is popular in Rome and Tuscany in Southern Italy. Fettuccine pasta is commonly served with alfredo sauce in fettuccine alfredo, a Roman dish with a creamy sauce.
