Alessi Pasta Pot
Alessi's Pasta Pot was designed by Patrick Jouin for Chef Alain Ducasse, who wanted an elegant, functional pasta pot for a unique method of pasta preparation. The result is a cooking pot that's completely functional, but good looking enough to move from the stove top to your dining room table in style.
This isn't the kind of pot you'll use to boil quarts of water – the Pasta Pot is designed for an ages-old style of pasta cooking called "reduction" that Ducasse has rediscovered and is championing as the ideal way to increase the flavor of pasta dishes while simplifying the cooking process. Reduction cooks pasta by first sautéing it with herbs, spices and just a touch of olive oil, then adding the sauce ingredients to the pot. Only toward the end of cooking is a small amount of water or stock added to complete cooking. The result is extremely flavorful, as the pasta is imbued with the flavor of the starches and the rich sauce ingredients. Less cooking, fewer pans, fewer ingredients and more flavor – who wouldn't love it?
If the food sounds wonderful, consider the Pasta Pot itself – simple, clean lines and a handle with gentle curves make it as appealing to look at as it is practical. Jouin has designed a complete cooking system in one pot by focusing on all aspects of the function. A melamine spoon is sculpted to follow the curves of the pot's handles and fits seamlessly into it when not being used. A matching melamine trivet that looks like modern art allows you to serve directly from the Pasta Pot. The lid, a smooth, mirror-finish circle with no extraneous details or top handle to break up its lines, fits the pot precisely, with a side handle that fit like a puzzle piece over the pot handle and spoon.