In Italy, food is an emotional experience that engages all senses. Every meal is a celebration, and pasta is such an important part of the meal.
“Al dente” is preferred because it enhances the eating experience: mushy pasta is just not enjoyable.
At the same time, the firmness of pasta allows you to taste pasta better. Pasta is architecture for the mouth. It makes you realize what you are eating, and being aware of the pasta shape is important as it adds to the mouthfeel of the dish.
