I know first hand being the pasta connoisseur that I am, that there is bad pasta and quality pasta that you can't get anywhere else. Throughout my almost 19 years of living, I can say I truly found the very best pasta right in the homeland itself. Italy. Duh. I would be lying if I said that a single tear did not come out of my eye. It was pasta carbonara, a rare variety that I had never tried before. I will never forget the time, location, and the exact seat I sat in when I had this glorious meal. I knew right then and there, that this is was some quality pasta. Follow these tips and you may very well have the best meal of your whole life right in your own home.

1. Shape

Alright c'mon now. You can't go cheap and get regular elbow macaroni. You gotta get the expensive stuff from Target. A few of my fave kinds are the whole grain Barilla penne noodles, if you're feeling lazy the Barilla Ready pasta in the bag, Simply Balanced by Target, and De Cecco.

2. Thickness

You can't pick the right pasta without having the right thickness. You have angel hair pasta which is too thin, and you have cannelloni that can be too thick. You have to pick a happy medium in order for your pasta to be quality. Some of my recommendations are Fettuccine if you're in the Spaghetti or Alfredo kind of mood, or Ziti if you're in the casserole kind of mood. Either way, steer far away from the too thin and too thick pastas.

3. Stay far away from imported pastas

Most of the famous pasta types are actually produced right here in America. Yes, you read that right. Don't be tricked into buying expensive pasta with a fancy Italian name. Look at the back of the box or bag, and look to see where the pasta was imported from and made. This is a crucial deal breaker, and one that you must do your research on.

4. Cook the pasta first before you mix it with sauce

It may seem ridiculous, but in order to decipher if you truly picked the best pasta out there, you MUST cook it as a sample before you mix it with anything else. What happens if you don't you may ask? You'll have some gross, overrated, nasty pasta that can't be served to anyone including yourself. Just spend the extra 15 minutes and sample your dang pasta before you use it.

If you follow all of the advice listed above, I guarantee you will have some tear worthy pasta right in your own hands. Each of these tips are crucial, and not to be forgotten. While there may be some other factors that make pasta great, these are the most important. Don't question the pasta connoisseur.