This post is sponsored by Barilla, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make Miss Moore Style possible!

Ciao, bellas! If you were asked to fly off to Milan to attend a pasta world championship, and from your go-to pasta brand, would you go? Yeah, that’s what I thought! A couple months ago, I was invited to attend the Pasta World Championship hosted by Barilla, and my jaw literally dropped to the ground. There are few things I love more in life than carbs, especially in the form of pasta, so I was abso-freaking-lutely down for this trip. What could be better than a bunch of amazing, young chefs from around the world bringing their pasta A-game to Milan, Italy and getting to experience it firsthand? Just go ahead and try and think of something, I’ll wait.

The competition was a 2 day event, in which 18 chefs came together in the Brera district of Milan, Italy, to win the Pasta World Championship, although one was not able to attend at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Chefs representing the United States, Italy, Sweden, Norway, China, Germany, and others came from far and wide to exhibit their skills. On the first day of the event, the chefs all presented their signature dishes in the “Masters of Joy” round because…let’s be honest…eating pasta is pure joy. Being in the mix here was so interesting and I loved the energy in the room. It felt like I was a part of a real, live cooking show that Nate and I love watching so much, kind of like Iron Chef or Beat Bobby Flay. Round by round, the judges sampled the various dishes and chose their winners. I really feel like I learned so much more about cooking and food in general just by listening to the various commentary and watching the techniques the chefs used. The Pasta World Championship definitely was not only entertaining but a great way to get some new tricks up my sleeve for when Nate and I cook at home!

Of course, considering the fact that I was in Milan, I had to also bring my fashion A-game with me. This is the look I wore on the first day of the competition. As far as fashion tips and pasta go, my number one recommendation is to go with red, especially for me because I’m hella clumsy and liable to spill marinara on myself. This way, no one is the wiser if you accidentally love your pasta a little too much.

On day two, the remaining 7 chefs competed in two different rounds to determine the winner of the Pasta World Championships. The second day was actually my favorite, because the Masters of Well-Being challenge was right up my alley. For this round, the chefs had to go shopping in the “marketplace” that was set up behind them with various fresh ingredients to whip up a dish on the spot. It really was like watching a cooking show in real life. Call me a nerd, but I was super into it. This is thinking on your feet at its best! In addition, the chefs were charged with using Barilla’s new one-ingredient pasta made with chickpeas or legumes. As much as I love pasta, I also love eating healthy and plant based pasta is a great way to get that pasta craving, but feel great about your choice.

Speaking of plant based dishes, I LOVED the dish that U.S. chef, Carolina Diaz, whipped up for this round. I got to meet up with her and talk to her a bit over on my instagram stories about how you don’t have to always have meat in your diet to get the protein you need. Diaz told me all about how you can get everything you need from legumes, which is great for all my vegetarians and vegans out there. I love meat, but I also do try to cook several meals a week at home meatless, so I loved hearing her tips on how to still eat well sans the meat.

I also loved watching Diaz cook. She told me that yes, its a little nerve wracking to have so many people watching you and taking your photo, but she always remembers to smile whenever she felt nervous. I couldn’t tell there were any nerves going on, because she seemed so cool under pressure and appeared to be having a blast. Of course, you gotta look over your shoulder and check out what your opponent was up to from time to time…this competition was fierce!

After the Masters of Wellbeing round, the final contestants were eliminated, leaving only Carolina Diaz and the chef from China for the final round of the Pasta World Championship. Yes, who could’ve asked for a better showdown?! In the end, Diaz prevailed, which was so awesome to see her win as I had followed her story the entirety of the event and loved her dishes. Also….gotta root for the USA, am I right?! Her Spaghetti al Pomodoro wowed the judges with its simplicity and deliciousness. She stood out from the competition by using every part of the tomato to bring out the perfect balance of acidity and sweetness. Thank God I chose to wear a red dress! 😉

I’m headed back to LA now, where I’ll probably be putting myself on a self-prescribed green juice cleanse after all these carbs. That being said, I had the best time and this will definitely be an experience I will never forget. I’ve definitely got some new tips and fun things to try in the kitchen. Thank you to the Pasta World Championship for having me, and congrats to Carolina Diaz on her big win!

If you loved this post, check out my other travel posts covering Rome, Florence, and Venice!

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