Italian restaurateur Alfredo di
Lelio created Fettuccini Alfredo in 1914 to help his wife regain her appetite
after the birth of their first son. Its popularity in the USA stems from
Hollywood stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks returning to the States
after dining at Di Lelio’s restaurant on their honeymoon. Upon their return,
they spread the word like wildfire about this new incredible dish. Before we
knew it, Fettuccini Alfredo became one of the most popular dishes in America
and remains so to this day.
Celebrate the legacy of Alfredo di
Lelio and his creation by heading to your favorite Italian restaurant tonight
and enjoying this dish. Or even better, if you are feeling more adventurous,
prepare your own version at home and enjoy with friends and family. With all
your newly acquired knowledge about the dish, you will assuredly liven up the
party with all these fun facts!
Here is a quick and easy recipe from Giada De Laurentiis:
Ingredients
- 18 ounces fresh fettuccine
- 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cups grated Parmesan
- 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- Salt and freshly ground white pepper
Directions
Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Drain.Stir 2 cups of the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy large skillet to blend. Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Add the pasta and toss. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of cream, and Parmesan to the cream sauce in the skillet. Add the lemon zest, nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Toss the pasta mixture over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute.
HISTORY OF ALFREDO DI LELIO CREATOR OF “FETTUCCINE ALL’ALFREDO”
ReplyDeleteWith reference of your article we have the pleasure to tell you the history of our grandfather Alfredo Di Lelio, creator of “fettuccine all’Alfredo” (recipe in the world known).
Alfredo di Lelio opened the restaurant “Alfredo” in 1914 in a street in central Rome, after leaving his first restaurant run by his mother Angelina in Piazza Rosa (Piazza disappeared in 1910 following the construction of the Galleria Colonna / Sordi). In this local spread the fame, first to Rome and then in the world, of “fettuccine all’Alfredo”.
In 1943, during the war, Di Lelio sold the restaurant to others outside his family.
In 1950 Alfredo Di Lelio decided to reopen with his son Armando his restaurant in Piazza Augusto Imperatore n.30 "Il Vero Alfredo" (“Alfredo di Roma”), which is now managed by his nephews Alfredo and Ines, with the famous “gold cutlery”” (fork and spoon gold) donated in 1927 by two well-known American actors Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks (in gratitude for the hospitality).
See also the site of “Il Vero Alfredo” http://www.alfredo-roma.it/.
We inform that the restaurant “Il Vero Alfredo” is in the registry of “Historic Shops of Excellence” of the City of Rome Capitale.
Best regards Alfredo e Ines Di Lelio
Thanks for sharing!
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