Hollywood stars push up U.S. pasta consumption

(AGI) Rome, Feb 26 - Hollywood stars love pasta and are driving consumption in the U.S. Seventy-seven percent of Americans eat pasta once a week, and 33 percent eat it at least three times a week, a trend bolstered by American film stars who are fulsome in their praise. They include Stanley Tucci, who cooks on set, Penelope Cruz, and Matt Damon, who cooks pasta for his daughters. The following are some of the dishes favoured by the stars: PASTA ALLA CARBONARA - made with bacon. Penelope Cruz said she would eat "spaghetti at lunch and supper, practically all day!" She has become an expert at this dish, the "real kind, with bacon". Halle Berry is also a fan of this Roman speciality. HARRISON FORD'S "STELLAR" PASTA ALLA PUTTANESCA Harrison Ford is another devotee of pasta . He said "it's easy and quick to cook". The star has enchanted millions of film-goers as Han Solo in the seventh episode of Star Wars. This is his favourite dish, al dente, obviously. CACIO E PEPE This is the coolest pasta dish this year, according to New York Magazine. Despite its simplicity, this ancient Roman and peasant recipe, said to date from 1200, has won over Mickey Rourke, Woody Allen and Michael Douglas. PASTA AL PESTO OR WITH COURGETTES - traditional local recipes. Hollywood and the Amalfi coast have had a love story going back many years: Dustin Hoffman spent a relaxing holiday in the kitchen garden of the San Pietro restaurant, gathering tomatoes and courgettes for a Mediterranean-style dish. Tom Hanks, Oscar hopeful for "Bridge of Spies", prefers Spaghetti alla Nerano, made with freshly-picked courgettes from the Sorrento coast. Steven Spielberg, who directed him in the film, adores trenette pasta with pesto and pinenuts. PASTA WITH TRUFFLES, MON AMOUR The sophisticated taste of truffles has seduced a great many in the film business: from director Quentin Tarantino, who revived spaghetti westerns with "The Hateful Eight" after "Django Unchained", to Johnny Depp, who is hoping for an Oscar for "Black Mass". Uma Thurman is thought to have her own personal consultant, Italian, but name top secret, for her beloved Tagliatelle al Tartufo. Even Madonna, who has not put in any particularly great screen performances, is keen on Pappardelle al Tartufo made by a personal pasta chef, which she serves to her guests at exclusive parties. MATT DAMON AND PASTA WITH BROCCOLI Matt Damon, Oscar candidate for Best Actor with "The Martian", loves pasta with butter and broccoli, the "secret" recipe he serves up for his three youngest daughters. (AGI) . .