Top 3 Southern American Pasta

Mac and cheese—a seemingly simple combination of macaroni and melted cheese—is one of the most popular dishes in the United States. The preferred American combination consists of curved macaroni pasta and Cheddar cheese, but modern varieties include vegetables, breadcrumb toppings, or gourmet ingredients such as crab, lobster, or truffles. Although it is an American staple, the dish was probably inspired by similar pasta dishes enjoyed in Italy and France. In the United States, it was popularized by none other than Thomas Jefferson. He fell in love with the combination of pasta and cheese during his European travels, and soon after returning, he started importing macaroni and had the pasta machine shipped to Virginia. Jefferson's chefs prepared macaroni and cheese and served it at his lavish banquets, and his distant cousin Mary Randolph published the first mac and cheese recipe in 1824. The dish was further popularized when Kraft placed the boxed variety on the market. Mac and cheese is a cheap, no-frills dish that could feed the whole family, and it is no surprise it has become a mainstay in American kitchens. It is the ultimate comfort food and is often listed as one of the most iconic American dishes. Expand

Crawfish Monica is an American dish consisting of rotini pasta, crawfish tails, garlic, Creole seasoning, butter, and cream. The dish was invented in Louisiana by Pierre Hilzim, who named it after his wife, Monica Davidson. The recipe is kept a secret, and the name of the dish is trademarked. In the 1980s, Davidson and Hilzim started to sell their dish at Jazzfest, and it didn't take a long time for crawfish Monica to become one of the most popular dishes at the festival.Expand

Spaghetti Bordelaise is an American dish originating from New Orleans. Basically, the dish is Italian spaghetti aglio e olio with the addition of butter and the removal of browned garlic. The French Creoles also add white pepper instead of black pepper, giving the dish a nice French twist. In order to prepare it, garlic is sautéed over olive oil and butter, and as it begins to take on a golden color, it's removed from the pan. White pepper and parsley are then added to the pan, and the sauce is tossed with cooked and drained spaghetti with a bit of the cooking water until everything is well coated. It's recommended to pair the dish with Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay. Spaghetti Bordelaise also make for a great side dish to oysters Mosca, which is also the most famous version of the dish served at Mosca's restaurant, just like this one.Expand