On a traditional Italian dinner table, pasta is often served as the “primo” or first course whereas on most American dinner tables, it is enjoyed as the main meal. In both cases, when served right, pasta is delicious, nutritious and perhaps one of the quickest meals to prepare. Most low-carb diet authorities suggest that pasta is a food that is bad for you. Other schools of thought strongly disagree and use the healthy Mediterranean diet as a reference to back up their arguments. Whether you agree with the authorities mentioned above or not, I can tell you that as a chef, caterer and culinary instructor, it is my responsibility to arm you with all the knowledge you need to make conscious and educated culinary decisions. Pasta is a comfort food and certainly a favorite dinner that Americans love to eat. One reason for this could be because it triggers the release of endorphins responsible for happy mood swings. Although it is not known for sure, this could be the brain’s way of showing gratitude for providing it with the much-needed fuel for its daily functions