Orzo, meaning “barley” in Italian, is so named because of its grain-like shape, but some say that it more closely resembles large grains of rice or melon seeds. No matter how you look at it, Orzo is a quick and versatile pastina (little pasta). Made with high quality semolina, Rustichella d’Abruzzo Orzo resists mushiness, keeping its shape and pleasurable texture through cooking. Use it in soup, as the Italians do, make a Greek-style pasta salad with salmon, cherry tomatoes, feta and lemon vinaigrette, or serve as an easy side dish with pesto. About the Producer: In 1981, Nicolina Peduzzi decided to revive the pastificio (pasta factory) her father had started 50 years earlier in a small town in Abruzzo, Italy. More family members joined the business, which quickly grew into one of the most extensive artisanal pasta lines in Italy. Nicolina, the matriarch, remains the keeper of artisan core values, which she demonstrates personally at every incredible meal she cooks for the family. (And in fact, in the Peduzzi family, many important business decisions are made over a heaping dish of spaghetti!) It is these wonderful meals and moments shared at the family table that ensure that Rustichella d’Abruzzo will continue to maintain high levels of integrity, professionalism and passion for quality.