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Disco hit: Penne alla vodka, popular in New York 80s clubs, is now a menu staple

Boozy, tomato pasta dish is enjoying a resurgence – with Gigi Hadid posting her own take on it

Disco hit: Penne alla vodka, popular in New York 80s clubs, is now a menu staple

TL;DR

  • Penne alla vodka, a tomato and cream pasta dish with vodka, is seeing a widespread resurgence.
  • Its popularity is fueled by nostalgia and social media, with versions appearing from budget to fine dining establishments.
  • Celebrities like Gigi Hadid have posted their takes on the dish, leading to its nickname 'the Gigi Hadid pasta'.
  • The dish's origin is debated, with claims pointing to New York restaurants in the 1960s and 70s, though traditional Italians often view it as sacrilegious.
  • It was ubiquitous in the US by the 1980s, earning the nickname 'disco sauce', and is now seen as a comforting food in uncertain times.
  • Modern variations are evolving, with some even appearing as pizza or sandwich options.