This is by far the simplest and the most classic pasta dish ever grace this earth. Sometimes, the simpler the dish, the easier it is to screw things up. Maybe one of these days, I will post an IGTV on which pasta to choose and the science of water to pasta ratio for the best results.

Spaghetti is traditionally used for this pasta dish, but I find that spaghetti is overrated and overused, while linguine is the polar opposite. Use whatever black peppercorns you can afford. There are hundreds upon hundreds of different brands with a wide range of prices. Use whatever brands you think are worth your money on. At the end of the day, it is the technique that will elevate this dish. Speaking of technique, for the best results, toast the peppercorns before grinding them in a mortar and pestle. Yes, blitzing the peppercorns in a spice grinder will somehow "dilute" the intensity of the peppercorns. I also threw in some pink peppercorns. It permeates the pasta ever so slightly.

As for the cheese, use pecorino romano. Do not buy those pre-grated ones. They contain sawdust which preventing the cheese from clumping together. Yes. Sawdust. Somehow the food regulator permitted them. Please, for the love of food, buy a good quality block and grate them freshly whenever you need some cheese. It is magical how just 3 ingredients will create such a complex dish. Simplicity is indeed the ultimate sophistication. I hope you will give this recipe a try.