Dan Pashman & Zingerman's Collaboration Gift Box

When we got the chance to collaborate with the guy who invented the first new pasta shape in like, a thousand years (probably), we jumped at the opportunity.

It's not everyday you get to hitch your wagon to an author and award winning podcast host like Dan Pashman. On his show The Sporkful they "obsess about food to learn more about people." It's not a show for foodies, as Dan says, but for eaters. Probably why TIME magazine called his show one of the "100 Best Podcasts of All Time."

You can see why we're excited. 

Dan traveled our hallowed checkerboard halls (virtually) and selected some of his favorite foods to share. The box is built around one of the recipes from Dan's book Anything's Pastable, called "Kimchi Carbonara" and most of the ingredients you'll need to make the recipe are in the box, along with a recipe card on how to make it. 

Our colorful, cartooned gift box includes a nosher-sized Lemon Poppy Seed Coffee Cake, Pecorino Romano Cheese, Jowl Bacon (aka: guanciale), Zingerman's French Grey Sea Salt Potato Chips, Zzang! Original Candy Bar, a tin of Rizzoli Oil-Packed Anchovies, a bag of Dan's own Cascatelli Pasta (of course), and a recipe card on how to make Kimchi Carbonara. 

Lemon Poppy Seed Coffee Cake: "My wife Janie's absolute favorite cake, period. Pro tip: microwave a slice for 8 seconds and it comes out just a little warm and soft."
Pecorino Romano Cheese: "Parmigiano-reggiano's salty cousin. Works really well in the carbonara."
Jowl Bacon: "A bit smokier and richer than the Italian guanciale. And that's a good thing in this recipe."
Zingerman's French Grey Sea Salt Potato Chips: "For snacking while you're cooking! Or when you're not cooking, too."
Zzang! Original Candy Bar: (takes a bite and chews candy bar) "Mmmm. Mmmmm mmm. Beyond!"
Rizzoli Oil-Packed Anchovies: "Good anchovies matter!"
Cascatelli Pasta: "It took me three years to invent this shape. We designed it to handle any sauce thick, thin, or chunky. It stays on your fork and it's incredibly satisfying to chew. It's the perfect pasta for any situation!"