As any Italian or Italian-cooking snob will tell you, Pasta a la Vodka is not authentic in any way. Even though it was, allegedly, created in Italy, it was only embraced by us ignorant Olive-Garden perpetrators. But love it we do and there are a few really good versions out there.

This, I’m afraid, is not one of them. While not a bad recipe in any way, the flavor is…subtle, to be kind. There’s just no reason to make this unless you feel as Hesser does, that most version are too heavy on the tomatoes and cream.