Milk Street Class: The Hardest Pasta Recipe in the World with Rolando Beramendi

The simplest recipes are the hardest. Think that’s a contradiction of terms? Consider the classic Roman dish Cacio e Pepe. It has just three ingredients, but it has frustrated countless chefs and is considered the most difficult pasta dish to make and serve even by Italians. Whether it’s a broken sauce, a curdled egg or a greasy texture, this seemingly simple dish can go sideways fast. Thankfully, Italian pasta expert extraordinaire Rolando Beramendi has taught a pre-recorded Zoom class with Milk Street to teach you how to execute it with confidence and grace. And for those who want to dig into a plate of pasta that doesn't come with a warning label, Rolando also makes one of the easiest pasta dishes: Spaghetti alla Carbonara. With Rolando as your guide, you’ll learn how to pick high-quality ingredients that will set you up for success, from sharp pecorino Romano to artisanal pasta to salty guanciale and fragrant black peppercorns. You’ll also learn the nuanced timing of both of these dishes, and why having your ingredients fully prepped and ready to go before you turn on a single burner is critical. You’ll also get a peek into Rolando’s experiences as the founder of Italian food importer Manicaretti, which means that eating his way through Italy is literally part of the job description. You’ll come away from this class several steps closer to pasta perfection.