If you have never been to Boston’s North End,you’re missing one of the great “little Italys”in the US. NY’s little Italy has more or less vanished and been gobbled up by China Town but Boston still has an authentic Italian American neighborhood and population in the North End.
Since I’m on the topic of pasta,I thought I would share this video. Prince is a pasta brand born from Italian immigrants that came to Boston in the early 1900′s and Prince Street is one of the main streets in the North End. I haven’t had Prince in a long time,so I don’t know how it stacks up against other pasta brands. According to their website,it was sold in 1987 to Borden Inc. (a non-Italian company.)
If you grew up in New England,you might remember this commercial for Prince. It’s a classic! There’s also a re-make of it. You can find both on the Prince website (www.princepasta.com). The great part of this commercial is that Anthony (the boy in the commercial) was a boy that lived in the North End and was approached on the street by the producers of the commercial to be in it. Wednesday’s are still Prince Spaghetti Day:)
Anthony!! LOL I haven’t seen that commercial in years Joe. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face. Weds typically are still spaghetti day’s in our house.
Oh yeah! I remember this so well! We used to mimic this when my grandma asked one of us to call everyone in for dinner.
“ANT-ONEE!!”
Yankeesoaper…great marketing right? sticks to this day.
Maryann,we did the same thing! gotta love it.
Yep,I remember it. And,I have been to Little Italy in Boston. It is *much* better than the one in NYC. As I recall,I loved it.
I must go back!!
I have not had Prince yet and you’re right on about Little Italy in NYC,such a shame. I was just talking about this with my friends this weekend…such a great area for dining (go figure).
It is great isn’t it Robin…I haven’t been in a while either.
Hey Chris,I’ll need to try some Price soon and see how it is. Hope things are going well in Roma.
Hey we have our little Italy in Melbourne too in Lygon St. Its changed a bit since I was there though,but trendy as ever.
The spaghetti days at our place were Thursdays and Sundays. I’ve reduced it to Sundays and vary a lot more now.
I love this commercial,I use to say it all the time because my son’s name is “Ant-onee”
What a blast from the past. I loved that commercial. I grew up north of Boston and we always had spaghetti on Wednesday nights.
Hi Scintilla,I have family in Melbourne but have yet to get there…it’s a shame really but that flight seems daunting.
That’s great Marie…did he love it or hate it?
Girasoli…. funny how a good marketing campaign creates a movement like that. I’m sure Wednesdays were (maybe still are) spaghetti night for many families in the Boston area.
You know,I grew up in Cleveland and I remember this commercial. It must have at least have been marketed in the Midwest as well. Thanks for sharing! It really brings me back!
Lived in the North End in ’86,and loved it. The best was the all night bakery,and awesome caupucino all the time.
On the west coast there’s ‘North Beach’in San Francisco,with some great Italian food. But CA is dominated by Spanish and Asian cultures,which is different from Italian and European-based food and culture. However,when you travel north to the wine country (Napa &Sonoma),you’ll find a lot of wineries that follow French and Italian methods. Heck,it’s the best of all worlds out here on the west coast!