|| 1 March 2021

The TikTok Feta Pasta Sensation

Usually I pay little attention to fads. When I read the New York Times headline about a baked feta dish that had become a sensation via TikTok, the video-sharing social networking service, I read no more than the headline. Besides, while I love feta, I do not want to eat it baked — and I don’t much care for pasta at all.

Then, Betty in California sent an email with a link to the NY Times article I had previously ignored. Last September Betty had sent the information about Murray’s Cheese, the New York based cheese store for which her son, a professional fromager, cheese maker, works. (If you missed the Nouvelles about Murray’s Cheese you can read it here. The Nouvelles about my experience eating four cheeses — including a Greek feta — that I ordered from Murray’s cheese can be read here.)

In her email, Betty wrote:

I know you like feta, as I do, but I've been a little leery about this new TikTok feta pasta craze that has gone viral in a major way.

I don't think the recipe sounds appealing and I don't particularly like very creamy things (like Alfredo sauce), though I do think feta is very nice in a frittata or omelette.

The link to the article The TikTok Feta Effect is from the NY Times and they did quote my son, Walshe Birney, on it. He says he tried the feta pasta dish and it was good, very creamy, but it still doesn't sound very appealing to me. However, it created a shortage of feta — I'm sure that's never happened before. Enjoy!

You can read the New York Times article with the quote from Betty’s son here.

And if you are wondering if Betty in California is the Betty Birney that writes the children’s book series According to Humphrey and According to Og the Frog, the answer is yes. You can check out Betty’s books on her website bettybirney.com and learn more about her and her charming backyard writing house.