National Pasta Day in 2017, observed on October 17th, coincided with National Pasta Month, providing consumers with various opportunities to enjoy pasta-based promotions and freebies. The available data highlights specific restaurant deals, particularly those related to National Spaghetti Day on January 4th, and lists other pasta-related holidays throughout the year. While several promotional offers were identified, the source material does not provide comprehensive details regarding eligibility requirements, expiration dates, or specific geographic restrictions for all deals.
National Spaghetti Day Promotions
National Spaghetti Day, celebrated on January 4th, 2017, featured several restaurant discounts and free food offers across the United States. These promotions ranged from free pasta dishes with beverage purchases to discounted multi-course meals.
- Fazoli's: Customers who purchased a medium drink received a free dish of spaghetti, available with either marinara or meat sauce.
- The Peculiar Rabbit (Charlotte, North Carolina): This location offered a deal including a house salad, spaghetti, and a six-ounce meatball for $11.99.
- Apsaalooke Nights Casino (Crow Agency, Montana): Guests who bought a plate of spaghetti received a free $5 play. The promotion began at 11:30 a.m.
National Pasta Day Offers
October 17th marks National Pasta Day, which is part of the broader National Pasta Month celebration. While specific 2017 deals for this date were limited in the source material, the context highlighted general ways to celebrate, including dining at specialized pasta establishments.
- The Sosta (Nolita): The restaurant featured a limited edition "Cacio e Calabrese" pasta dish, available through October. The dish consisted of spaghetti, house-made ricotta, and Calabrian chili, priced at $12.
- Ristorante Asselina (Park Avenue South): Known for inventive pasta dishes, this venue was suggested as a destination for celebratory dining.
- Carbone (Greenwich Village): This location was noted for its retro dining atmosphere and high-end twists on old-school Italian fare, with pasta being a specialty.
- Babbo Ristorante: The restaurant, associated with Mario Batali, was cited as a premier destination for Italian cuisine.
Pasta Holidays Calendar
The source material provides a comprehensive list of pasta-related holidays throughout the year, offering consumers multiple dates to look for potential deals and freebies.
- January 4th: National Spaghetti Day
- February 7th: National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
- February 13th: National Tortellini Day
- March: National Noodle Month
- March 20th: National Ravioli Day
- April 6th: National Carbonara Day
- July 7th: National Macaroni Day
- July 14th: National Mac and Cheese Day
- July 29th: National Lasagna Day
- October: National Pasta Month
- October 17th: National Pasta Day
- October 25th: World Pasta Day
- October 27th: National Parmigiano Reggiano Day
- The 29th of every month: Gnocchi Day ("Ñoquis del 29")
America's Favorite Pasta Dishes
Data from Google Trends analysis identified the most popular pasta dishes across the United States as of 2017. Fettuccine Alfredo was ranked as the number one favorite, favored by residents in more than half of the U.S. states.
- Top Dish: Fettuccine Alfredo
- Regional Variations: The data indicated that some states had more than one favorite pasta dish.
- Specific Regional Dishes: One example noted was Spaghetti alla Nerano, a dish from the village of Nerano on the Sorrento Peninsula, which includes fried zucchini, provolone, Parmesan cheeses, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper, garlic, basil, and salt. Another noted dish was a Sicilian preparation made with eggplant, marinara sauce, and basil.
Entertainment and Cultural Context
National Spaghetti Day also served as a thematic backdrop for entertainment recommendations, suggesting that consumers might pair their meals with specific television shows or movies.
- Glitch: An Australian series available on Netflix, described as a mix of Lost and The Returned.
- Homeland: The Showtime series, specifically the Season 6 premiere, was highlighted as timely viewing.
- The OA: A Netflix Original series noted for its intricate details ("easter eggs").
- Lady and the Tramp: The Disney classic was recommended for its iconic spaghetti-eating scene.
Related Food Holidays and Deals
The source material provided context on other National Food Days occurring around the same time frame, specifically in September, which included deals on guacamole and cheeseburgers. These offers illustrate the broader landscape of food-related promotions.
- National Guacamole Day (September 16th): Qdoba Mexican Grill was noted to offer free guacamole with orders of burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, a promotion that began in 2014.
- National Cheeseburger Day (September 18th): Various chains announced specials:
- BurgerFi: $1 cheeseburgers with the purchase of another cheeseburger.
- Culver's: Individual locations may offer specials; customers were advised to call local stores or check the website.
- Farmer Boys: $1 Big Cheese cheeseburgers at participating locations.
- Holiday Inn (Burger Theory): Free classic cheeseburgers (10,000 total) while supplies lasted, no purchase required. Also offered a limited-time "The Cheese Louise" burger.
- Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & Fries: Half-off all burger combos from 5 p.m. to close for customers who downloaded the My Hwy 55 app.
Conclusion
National Pasta Day 2017 provided a variety of consumer incentives, ranging from free spaghetti dishes at Fazoli's to discounted multi-course meals at independent restaurants. The celebration extended beyond a single day, encompassing a month-long recognition of pasta in October and numerous other pasta-centric holidays throughout the year. While the data highlights specific deals and popular pasta dishes, consumers seeking to utilize these offers in the future should verify participation and terms directly with individual establishments, as the provided sources do not detail ongoing availability or specific eligibility restrictions.