Pasta basics: These are only some of several dozen varieties

FARFALLE or bow-tie pasta
Commonly known as 'bow-tie pasta' because of its shape, farfalle is from the Italian word 'farfalla', which means butterfly. Mamma Italia in Downtown Dubai serves a delicious farfalle con salmon for Dh51, which is farfalle pasta with grilled salmon in cream sauce. Farfalle is best suited to cream and tomato dishes. Farfallone is a larger farfalle and the mini, farfalline.
LASAGNE an ode to Garfield the cat
One of the oldest types of pasta, this one's flat and wide. Traditional lasagne is made by layering pasta with sauce, and chopped hard-boiled eggs. Commercial lasagne's made of semolina (from durum wheat). Different variations exist. Have it with cheese or veggies or minced meat or all of 'em. There's a traditional version at Per Te, Jumeriah for Dh72.
SPAGHETTI and meatballs, surely
A thin, long pasta, also made from durum wheat semolina. Spaghetti is the plural of 'spaghetto', which means 'thin string' in Italian. Shorter string versions have become more popular. An emblem of Italian cuisine, spaghetti is divine when served with tomato sauce, meatballs and parmesan. Spaghetti and meatballs for Dh59 at Olive Garden, Al Safa.
PENNE most easy-going of the lot
A cylindrical pasta, the name derives from the Latin word 'penna' meaning feather or quill. Popular in salads as well, penne's hollow centre holds sauce beautifully. Traditionally cooked al dente - meaning cooked to be firm to the bite - penne's served with sauces such as pesto, marinara, or arrabiata. Try a spicy penne arrabiata for Dh55 at Cucina Mia Ristorante. Make at home and carry-to-work for lunch. Remember NOT to toss the starchy water out of the pot!
MACARONI and cheese (and a TV)A dry pasta shaped like narrow tubes, you find macaroni even outside Italian cuisine. American mac and cheese is right on top of some people's lists of all time great comfort foods. Another variant is the British macaroni pudding, similar to British rice pudding, but the rice is swapped with macaroni. A mac and cheese to try is the smoked chicken jalapeno mac and cheese from Chilli's for Dh65. Imperative to not go easy on the cheese.
RAVIOLI can transport you to Sicily
A layered dumpling filled with ricotta cheese or spinach or pumpkin, ravioli is usually eaten with broth or pasta sauce. In the 14th century a merchant from Prato called Francesco di Marco Datini talked about ravioli in his personal letters. Try a variety of ravioli in pasta sauce at Ottimo, Oud Metha. For Dh38, enjoy a dumpling of spinach and ricotta cheese. Read up on numerous other pastas: fusilli, linguine, cannelloni, tortellini, conchiglie (looks like sea shells), etc.