Don't be tempted by high end dried pasta; it sits on the shelf longer. The more basic pastas are fresher and more consistent batch-per-batch. My favorite dried pastas:

1) Trader Joe's

2) De Cecco, made in Italy, is my second choice. It's got a slightly nutty flavor and a great "al dente" (to the tooth) texture.

3) Barilla Pasta is made in Iowa and is the top selling brand in North America. It has a firm texture and isn't too starchy.

Posted by dan on January 17, 2008 6:36 AM | Permalink