Oh, you know, just another Tuesday lunch.

A three-course meal at Spiaggia prepared by the Executive Chef and Top Chef Season 15 winner Joe Flamm. Also in attendance were Barilla ambassadors Roger Federer and Mikaela Shiffrin. Yes, you read that correctly. Roger Federer, THE tennis player and Mikaela Shiffrin, THE Olympic skier. Is this real life?

I’m 1000% sure this will be coined as the best lunch event of my life so far. Here’s a quick recap.

After arriving at Spiaggia for the Barilla® Collezione Masters of Pasta event hosted by Barilla, we got to nosh on some lovely appetizers, like the beautiful toasts topped with burrata, seasonal fruit, whipped honey vinaigrette, basil and pistachio. Sooooo good!

Gorgeous lunch set up at Spiaggia

Beautiful and delicious appetizers

Barilla introduced all the fabulous stars, followed by a pasta cooking demo from Chef Joe Flamm. Both Roger Federer and Mikaela Shiffrin went into the kitchen with Chef. I was hoping they would take on the role of sous chefs, but alas, they did not! Ha ha. They intently watched the demo as we all did.

Introducing Chef Joe Flamm and Roger Federer

Now Introducing Mikaela Shiffrin

Federer and Shiffrin head into the kitchen!

Chef showed us how he was preparing the Barilla® Collezione Rigatoni for our lunch that day. This pasta is extra special because it is bronze cut, which means it has a more rough, porous surface that results in a texture similar to homemade pasta. It also allows sauce to better cling to the pasta, which is perfect for me because I like my pasta dishes saucy!

Chef Joe Flamm’s demo

Putting the final touches on the dish

Is the plated dish the star of this photo?!?!

After the pasta cooking demo, we had the chance to sit down to our unbelievable three-course meal. Mine started with a special vegetarian beet salad (the rest of the group had tuna), followed by the Barilla Collezione Rigatoni with fresh and dried tomatoes, and ending with an absolutely yummy Tutti Frutti dessert. My mouth is literally watering thinking of all these amazing dishes!

Beet salad

Barilla Collezione Rigatoni dish

Tutti Frutti dessert

The lunch concluded with something I was really looking forward to: a picture with Roger Federer! He will be participating in the Laver Cup this weekend in Chicago at the United Center (September 21-23) and Barilla is one of the official sponsors of the event. You should definitely head to the Laver Cup Fan Village in the lot around the United Center and find the Barilla Masters of Pasta Cucina area (get your free tickets here).  Who knows who you might see there!

With my new friend Roger Federer!!

Please Note: This post is in partnership with Barilla. All opinions are my own.