Vice Trade

SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA is one of my least favorite dishes. It’s made with olives, anchovies, and capers: three things that should stay out of any red sauce, if you ask me. But I do love the name. It means “whore’s spaghetti” or “spaghetti, whorestyle.” The name most likely stems from the fact that Neapolitan prostitutes made the dish from leftover scraps because they didn’t have much time to go to the market or make dinner between appointments and didn’t want to inconvenience their patrons.

I’ve long wanted to use the phrase “Politica alla puttanesca,” but I’ve never quite found the right context. Until, perhaps, now.

About the Author

Jonah Goldberg

Jonah Goldberg is a National Review contributing editor.

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SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA is one of my least favorite dishes. It’s made with olives, anchovies, and capers: three things that should stay out of any red sauce, if you ask me. But I do love the name. It means “whore’s spaghetti” or “spaghetti, whorestyle.” The name most likely stems from the fact that Neapolitan prostitutes made the dish from leftover scraps because they didn’t have much time to go to the market or make dinner between appointments and didn’t want to inconvenience their patrons.

I’ve long wanted to use the phrase “Politica alla puttanesca,” but I’ve never quite found the right context. Until, perhaps, now.