March 9th is National Meatball Day.

Meatballs are be made of different kinds of meat or blends, depending on local preferences. These days, there even vegan meatballs made from from grains, tofu and vegetables.

What’s your favorite use for meatballs? The most popular meatball dishes in the U.S. include:

 
Numerous restaurants offer meatball specials on March 9th. There’s none we’d rather have than the one at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse.

On March 9th, their special hommage to the meatball—a jumbo $100 gourmet fantasy (photo #1)—is made with:

 
A glass of 2012 Prunotto Barolo is included with the meatball.

It’s meant to be a main course, but can be split as an appetizer.

On other days, have a dish of the restaurant’s acclaimed American Kobe beef meatballs, $13.

If you miss it this year, mark your calendar for next year. Maybe a belated Valentine dinner?
 
 
MEATBALL HISTORY

Chopping meat to make it easier chew no doubt goes back to the cavemen.

[1] If you’ve got the $100, go for the experience (photo courtesy East Coast Contessa | Instagram via Davio’s).

[2] If you go to cheese shops, caciocavallo is a familiar Italian cheese. But seasonally, cheesemakers mix in black truffles for a more elegant option (photo courtesy The Real Food Market).

With the increase of ancient trade roots, the meatball likely traveled to the Middle East, where the regional meatball is kofta, usually made from ground lamb. It ultimately moved to Europe, where it was made with meat that was most available/affordable locally.
 
Spaghetti & Meatballs

While common opinion is that spaghetti and meatballs came to the U.S. with Italian immigrants in the 19th century, that isn’t so.

The immigrants were typically poor people who couldn’t afford much meat. What festive dishes did have in the old country incorporated a few meatballs the size of large marbles.

But upon arriving in America, they couldn’t believe how affordable meat was. They incorporated it into traditionally meatless dishes; hence, spaghetti and meatballs.

With meatballs that were and are substantial in size.