ALI'S FAVORITE PASTA - AMATRICIANA
Food is the heart of everything we do at Great Performances; and for many of us, it’s a cornerstone of family memories. We invite our team members to share their food traditions and memories with us, and here, we share them with you!
Cooking with my mother has always been one of my favorite things to do. From when I was allowed to just stir to taking the lead, and creating the meals with her assisting me. One of the first recipes I remember falling in love with, and wanting to memorize, is Marcella Hazan’s Amatriciana from her cookbook “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking”, which, coincidentally, was the first cookbook that my mother gave me. To this day, this recipe is still one of my favorites.
Ali - Senior Event Director - Great Performances Catering Tweet
Ali and her mom sharing a hug.
Image credit: Ali Rea Baum
AMATRICIANA INGREDIENTS
PROCEDURE
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4-inch thick slice of pancetta, cut into 1/2”x1” slices
1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
Hot red chili peppers, chopped
Salt
3 Tbsp freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
2 Tbsp freshly grated Romano cheese
1 pound pasta
Add the oil, butter, and onion to a saucepan and saute on medium heat until the onions turn a pale golden color. Add the pancetta and cook for about a minute, stirring occasionally.
Add the tomatoes, chili pepper (to taste) and salt, and cook, uncovered, at a simmer for about 25 minutes. Taste and season to taste.
While the sauce is cooking, prepare the pasta according to package instructions. Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss. Add cheese and toss thoroughly again.
Adapted from Marcella Hazan’s original recipe
More Recipes

Exciting Events Around Town: November 2026
Apollo Theater | Asia Society | Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) | Brooklyn Museum | Caramoor | Jazz at Lincoln Center | The New York Historical |

6 Lessons Learned on the Job
Admitting your mistakes is scary, whether you’re 2+ years into the job or 20+ years. Not only do you have to remedy the situation, but,

Sandy’s Pasta Fagioli: A Multi-Generational Family Staple
Handwritten on note-cards, tucked away in over-stuffed binders, or scribbled in shorthand on the back of a receipt, family recipes always seem to find a

November Food Festival: Pasta Fagioli
Jump to Recipe Each month, our Food Festival series celebrates a dish through its ingredients, preparation, personal stories, and the people who bring food to

How to Plan a Holiday Party in NYC: A Guide for Company Teams
Asked to plan this year’s company holiday party? A step-by-step guide to dates, budget, venues and menus for corporate holiday parties in NYC.

The Hardest Part of Changing Hospitality Partners Isn’t Necessarily the Food
When a mission-driven organization in Midtown brought in a new workplace hospitality provider, the menu was the easy part. The real work was making the change land with everyone the program serves.

A Little Tradition, a Little Adventure, and a Lot of Thanksgiving
Jump to Recipe When two chefs are planning Thanksgiving dinner, keeping things simple is easier said than done. One of us starts with a traditional

Behind the Fall & Winter Menu: A Conversation with Chef Andrew Smith
What does it take to turn the flavors of fall and winter into a menu that works for events of every size, from harvest dinners