Why pasta comes in all shapes and sizes | Small Thing Big Idea, a TED series

Summary

The video explores the design and evolution of pasta, highlighting its rich history and cultural significance. It delves into the different types of pasta, from fresh to dry, long to short, and the variety of shapes like penne, farfalle, and orecchiette, explaining how each form affects texture and sauce absorption. The speaker emphasizes that pasta, honed over centuries, has become a culinary art form shaped by tradition and culture, rather than by any one designer. The narrative illustrates how pasta's simplicity and adaptability make it a cultural scaffold and a delight for the senses.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ Food is a form of design, especially when it comes to composing plates and creating pasta shapes.
• 🍝 The word 'pasta' comes from Latin, meaning 'paste,' which refers to combining water and flour to shape it.
• 🌍 Different cultures use various powders like rice or soy, but Italy primarily uses durum wheat for pasta.
• 🏛️ Pasta existed for centuries but flourished during the Renaissance and became mass-produced in the 17th century.
• 🎨 Pasta shapes are designed for specific purposes, such as ribbed pasta absorbing more sauce, or square pasta providing a different mouthfeel.
• 🥚 Dry pasta is made from durum wheat and water, while fresh pasta can also include eggs, offering more shaping possibilities.
• 🍴 There’s a wide variety of pasta, categorized by fresh vs. dry, long vs. short, each with its unique function.
• 🦋 Famous pasta types include penne (slanted tubes), farfalle (butterflies/bow ties), orecchiette (little ears), and conchiglie (shells).
• 👅 Pasta shapes affect how they interact with the palate and tongue, showing that design goes beyond just aesthetics.
• 🚫 Even great designers like Philippe Starck failed to redesign pasta properly, emphasizing the importance of centuries of refinement by families and grandmothers.

Q & A

What does 'pasta' mean and where does the word come from?

'Pasta' comes from the Latin word 'paste,' which refers to a mixture of water and some kind of powder, like wheat, to form a shapeable dough.

What types of flour are used in different cultures for making pasta?

Different cultures use various types of flour, such as rice powder or soy powder, while in Italy, durum wheat is commonly used.

When did pasta begin to flourish, and when did mass production start?

Pasta flourished during the Renaissance, but it wasn’t until the 17th century that it became mass-produced.

How does the design of pasta affect its performance?

Design considerations like whether pasta is ribbed or smooth affect its ability to absorb sauce, and its shape, whether round or square, influences how it feels on the palate.

What is the basic distinction between different types of pasta?

The basic distinction is between fresh pasta and dry pasta. Dry pasta is made with durum wheat flour and water, while fresh pasta can be made with either water and flour or flour and eggs.

What are some examples of classical short pasta, and how do their shapes affect their function?

Examples include penne, farfalle, orecchiette, and conchiglie. Penne are angled to pick up sauce, farfalle resemble bow ties, orecchiette means 'little ears,' and conchiglie are shaped like shells to scoop up sauce.

How do pasta shapes interact with the palate?

Pasta shapes are not just for aesthetics; they are designed to interact with the tongue and palate, contributing to the eating experience.

Why did many famous designers fail when trying to redesign pasta?

Many designers, like Philippe Starck, failed because they imposed shapes that did not work well when cooked. For instance, uneven wall thicknesses led to some parts of the pasta being mushy and others uncooked.

Why is it difficult to attribute the design of pasta to a single person?

Pasta's design evolved over centuries through contributions from various people, including families and grandmothers, making it a collective creation that belongs to the people.

How does pasta reflect cultural significance?

Pasta, though a simple mixture of carbohydrate and water, serves as the foundation for entire cultures, reflecting the culinary traditions and history of the people who create it.