If you’ve visited an Italian restaurant in Glen Rock lately, you’ve probably noticed some pretty standard offerings on the menu. After all, most Italian restaurants have plenty of pasta, cheese, and breads—but what makes these classic dishes so classic, and where did they come from, anyway? Here are a few popular dishes from Iachetti’s Brick Oven with an interesting history.

The First Pastas Didn’t Have Tomato Sauce! Meet Pasta al Pomodoro

If you asked most people in the United States to describe “Italian food,” many would reply with something along the lines of “pasta,” “spaghetti,” “noodles and red sauce.” But did you know that tomatoes were considered ornamental plants in Italy until the 1800s? Before that, sauces were cheese-based, or pasta was topped with oil. Pasta al pomodoro first burst onto the scene in 1837, quickly spreading in popularity throughout Italy. When immigrants moved to the Americas, they brought this tasty dish with them!

The Unclear History of Meatballs in NJ’s Italian Restaurants

Meatballs are the quintessential Italian food… except they didn’t start in Italy! In fact, meatballs are an ancient food, dating back to ancient Greece and Persia. Much like today’s meatballs, the meatballs of old combined meat with some sort of grain—most often, rice or lentils. How did they become such a staple of Italian food? We don’t know, but we’re glad they did. Otherwise, our parmesan-crusted meatballs would never exist!

Historic Restaurants Put Romesco Sauce on Fish

If you’re a regular diner at fine Italian restaurants, you will often see romesco steak on the menu—at Iachetti’s Brick Oven in Glen Rock, our guests love our Romesco Sliced Steak! But back when this sauce was first invented, it was to go on fish—and it came from Catalonia, a region in Spain. Fortunately for those who love this tomato and pepper-based sauce, it’s delicious on everything from fish and meat to breads of all sorts.

Next time you’re craving Italian food in New Jersey, stop by Iachetti’s Kitchen in Glen Rock for traditional Italian favorites and new twists on the best food.

It’s game season! As you plan your tailgate parties, make sure to include catering from your favorite Italian restaurant in Rock Glen, because you know your guests are bound to be hungry! Need some inspiration for your next game-day snacks? Try these ideas from Iachetti’s Kitchen!

Catering Ideas for Your Party

Iachetti’s Brick Oven has been catering for offices and other events for years—why not bring the deliciousness home with you for your next tailgate party? Our food is so good, almost anything works for a group, but we would suggest, at minimum, meatballs and flatbreads. They’re bite-sized and perfect for a crowd, and our flatbreads come in so many different varieties! Our mozzarella platter, oven roasted BBQ wings, and popcorn chicken and waffles are also a hit with guests of all ages. If you’re planning a big party, make sure to plan your catering order in advance!

The Ultimate: Bring a Chef!

Want the ultimate food at your next gathering? Bring a chef with your catering! That’s right, you can have a chef at your next event to prepare BBQ items like petite Kobe beef sliders, parsley cheese chicken sausage & peppers, sweet potato fritters, and espresso-rubbed sliced steak. Servers and bartenders are available for hire as well!

For Smaller Parties, Try Italian Restaurant Takeout and Delivery

If your next game watching party is going to be a small one, it may not make sense to get a large catering order. Or, if you hang out with the pickiest eaters in the world and nobody can agree on snacks, we’ve got you covered. Iachetti’s Italian restaurant has easy takeout and delivery options, which means that you and your crew can get exactly what you want. Our menu is huge, ranging from pizzas and burgers, to custom flatbreads, to pastas and finger foods.

Plan your game-watching extravaganza with food from Iachetti’s! Didn’t make catering plans? Don’t worry, just place a takeout order and we’ll have it ready soon!