Soaring energy costs bite pasta lovers in Italy

Public debate on how to cook pasta and save on surging energy costs is sparking outrage among Italian cooks. The gas price at the Amsterdam TTF benchmark is still seven times higher than what it was back in 2021 and Italian households and restaurants owners are seriously concerned about rising gas and electricity bills.

The Italian government is protecting Italian consumers and business with billions of euros in subsidies, but substantial raises in the bills for both gas and electricity are expected this fall. The cost of electricity in Italy is strictly related to the price of gas as the country produces almost 50% of its electricity requirement with gas. Wasfi Mesieha, chef at Sabatino traditional restaurant in Rome, says "pasta can cook by itself, without a flame. If you reach the 100 degrees boiling temperature, you can turn the flame off and pasta will continue cooking, but it will cook really badly." Mesieha made the traditional Roman Carbonara pasta for former US President Bill Clinton and a number of presidents and first ladies in his long career.