Farfalle and dirty martinis seem like an unlikely pairing but the collaboration between De Cecco and Bowtie Bar make it work effortlesslyLocated at the center of the iconic Times Square you will find Bowtie Bar. And for National Pasta Month and with World Pasta Day on October 25, the lounge found an unexpectedly clever culinary partner in the Italian pasta maker De Cecco.
The collaboration is the perfect intersection with the lounge’s bowtie namesake and with De Cecco’s famous farfalle dry pasta. And with this collaboration comes a signature cocktail and dish. Running through November 30, the collaboration introduces a De Cecco Premiere Pesto Pasta. The De Cecco farfalle is cooked to a nice al dente cook and then De Cecco’s basil pesto is incorporated into the dish and finished with shavings of aged Parmesan Reggiano. To accompany the pasta, the bar team rolled out the Parmesan Dirty Martini. This cocktail takes the classic dirty martini and introduces a savory and cheesy twist. The martini is built with vodka and incorporates aged Parmesan, olive brine, and then a touch of pasta water for a beautifully rounded, salty, and sharp martini. The subtle nutty salinity from the cheese cuts right through the olive brine, making it a perfect pairing with the pesto pasta dish.
Photo courtesy of Bowtie Bar
Beyond the signature pairing, the preview gave guests an early look at four brand-new sauce varieties from De Cecco, showcasing how the heritage brand continues expanding its pantry lineup beyond dry pasta. Guests also left with take-home recipes and gifts to test out the sauces at home.
Pairing a classic dry-pasta brand with an upscale Times Square cocktail bar might sound unconventional on paper, but the partnership felt obvious once delivered. Between the savory martini, the fresh pesto, and the view overlooking Broadway below, the residency turns a clever pun into a genuinely fun reason to head above Times Square this fall.
