As World Pasta Day approaches on October 25, a Pasadena couple is sharing the details of how they turn a simple meal into a welcoming experience that feels both personal and timeless.
Why pasta works as a unifying dish
For Pia and Davide Baroncini, pasta is less about the sauce than the people gathered around the table. “Pasta has always been about more than what is on the plate,” Davide said, adding that the dish “It has a way of making everybody equal.” They point out that a single bowl can be served to friends, children, parents or a boss without creating hierarchy.
That democratic quality, they argue, is rooted in Davide’s Sicilian upbringing, where hospitality is taught from a young age. Davide recalled that you don’t arrive at someone’s house empty-handed; in fact you should knock on the door with your feet because your hands are full of everything you’re bringing.
Pia echoes the sentiment, noting that their home has always been a revolving door of guests, children and dogs. “The biggest mistake people make when they entertain is starting with the things they want to show off, rather than the feeling they want to create,” she warned, urging hosts to begin with intention rather than a Pinterest-inspired layout.
Setting the scene for a relaxed feast
When the Baroncini’s host a pasta supper, they start with a snack that can be grabbed while the main dish cooks. A large bowl of sliced fennel dressed with lemon, accompanied by prosciutto, cheese, olives and fresh bread, is laid out on the kitchen island. “People are always surprised by how delicious something so uncomplicated can be,” Pia said.
The couple balances these casual bites with heirloom pieces that carry family stories. Davide’s table may feature Royal Copenhagen plates inherited from his grandmother alongside ceramics collected on trips to Italy. He stresses that beautiful objects do not demand formal behavior: “I’ll put bread on the counter, serve ingredients in their wrapping paper and let people gather in the kitchen.”
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Music, they say, is the invisible guest that shapes the atmosphere. Their playlists drift from 1960s Italian pop to Frank Sinatra, shifting to match sunny or rainy weather. “We want people to feel as though they’ve walked into our lives, not into an event that has been carefully staged for them,” Davide explained.
Instead of imposing a signature cocktail, the Baroncini keep the bar open for guests to choose their own drinks. When someone asks to contribute, Pia encourages them to bring a beverage they enjoy, while a special bottle of wine may be uncorked when everyone sits down—a nod to a tradition she remembers from her father’s basement selections.
Even the setting of their childhood home reflects a philosophy of openness. The house is filled with objects that have accumulated over the years, from sentimental linens to dog-scratched doors, creating a space where “I don’t want to live in a house where everyone is frightened of touching something.”
On the night of World Pasta Day, they plan to keep the menu straightforward: a fresh salad, a bowl of fennel, and a classic pomodoro sauce that they say “requires practice, instinct and an understanding of how flavours build.”
Beyond the plate
In the early years after leaving Sicily, the couple’s founder settled in New York and used pasta as a bridge between coworkers and friends, allowing anyone from a senior executive to a junior analyst to share the same bowl without distinction.