It's All About Lasagna

By Michele

My favorite food is lasagna and I’m always looking to find my “ahh” moment at first bite. In fact, if I had to state my last meal on earth, it would be lasagna.

Imagine, delicate sheets of wide pasta noodles, a rich and savory sauce, creamy melted ricotta cheese, slightly stringy mozzarella cheese, and tender sausage meat coming together to create a symphony of flavors and textures that leave an unforgettable flavor sensation on your palate.

I haven’t made it in years because I found one that is just sumptuous, purchased from an Italian specialty store. But before I share my favorite, I have a couple of lasagna experiences to share with you.

Recently, I was told that there was a restaurant in NYC called “Lasagna Restaurant.”  Obviously, I had to give it a try as they feature seventeen different types of lasagna. So, off I went with my husband for what I hoped would be a great culinary experience.

As advertised, the menu offered vegetarian, meat and seafood lasagnas. I opted for a meatball lasagna, while my husband selected the short rib lasagna. First off, I should have asked and not assumed that the meatballs would be crushed and incorporated into the layers. Instead, tiny meatballs were layered within the lasagna. The meatballs were a disappointment, as they were dense and lacking in flavor. Additionally, the lasagna was rather dry, lacking sauce as well as creamy cheese within. Conversely, the lasagna my husband ordered was better, as the meat had a good taste. But both lasagnas were missing the “ahh” bite.

While discussing the creation of this blog with my brother, he shared with me that he has also stopped making lasagna and found that a store-bought lasagna, Rana, was his go-to. Of course, I had to give it a try. Firstly, it was a mere three layers. The bottom was the ricotta, which was skimpy, the second layer was a generous portion of beef and sauce, and the top was covered in mozzarella cheese and more sauce. The result: The lasagna was highly salted, so that sealed it for me as one I would never purchase again! I shared that news with my brother and though he agreed it is probably too salty, he followed by saying that salt brings out the flavors. We agreed to disagree on salt amounts.

Lastly, my all-time, favorite is a lasagna bought in a local Italian specialty store, “Pastosa Ravioli" located on Richmond Road, Staten Island. As mentioned, I’ve been eating their lasagna for years and even serve it to guests. It fits the description I had you imagine. It’s a creamy, meaty, saucy bite that delivers a mouthwatering experience.

Summation: Visually all the lasagnas were appealing, but once you dug in, your palate ruled. For me, it’s the “Pastosa” lasagna bar none!