Ah, Italia!

Chef Hector Boiardi (or, Boy-Ar-Dee as his name was simplified to facilitate easier pronunciation) was an Italian immigrant who brought the authentic cuisine of his homeland to America, canned it, and introduced it to a whole country of families starved for something exotic. Right from its debut, the Chef's mouth-watering taste treats were a hit with the youngsters. What kid doesn't recall the fantastic array of Boy-Ar-Dee canned pastas embedded in thick tomato paste? Parents liked them, too, because, in the age of all-inclusive mass-marketed foods, it was convenient to get your entire meal from one can.

In this first ad, it's the old world Italian authenticity that is emphasized. It's not just crap in a can; it was made by the Chef himself in the kitchen at Castelnuevo val Tibone! After a bit of research, it is my belief that no such place exists. There is, however, a Castelnuovo val Tidone. All I'm saying is that maybe we shouldn't blindly believe the claims that the spice has been spiced 'just right' or that the mushrooms in Chef Boy-Ar-Dee's Mushroom Sauce were 'selected as they were from the grottos of Rome.'


Undeniably, the 'meal in a box' was one of the great inventions of the twentieth century. The Chef's take on this dinner favorite includes different varieties of Spaghetti Dinner and the popular Lasagna Dinner. Everything's in the box! The pasta, the sauce, and cheese! And, since there's a bit more work involved in preparing this meal, Chef Boiardi can't take all the credit! Even if you are Peggy Gallagher.