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For expecting parents, gender reveal parties can be a great way to find out if they’re having a boy or girl while surrounded by friends and family. Usually during these celebrations, couples choose a gender reveal cake (with blue inside for a boy and pink for a girl — and yes, we know that’s old-fashioned) or a piñata, but even more creative options have emerged. Why? Because gender reveal parties are totally Instagrammable. Villa Italian Kitchen’s offering, however, seems to be more like an April Fool’s joke than a social media-friendly idea.
The Italian eatery, which has active restaurants throughout the United States, is offering up a gender reveal lasagna. Yep — you read that right. Couples can cut into the surprising dish and reveal pink or blue dyed lasagna. Even the concept sounds gross. Lasagna isn’t cake, and it’ll never be cake.
It’s understandable that Villa Italian Kitchen would want to get in the gender reveal game, but in the sample video they provided on Instagram, the lasagna looked almost inedible.
Come to think of it, the couple who did the reveal didn’t actually eat it either, proving it may not be the best way to get big news across. Just take one look, and try not to gag.
Even worse, the gender reveal lasagna costs $140 dollars. Sure, it may feed a small party. That is, if that party isn’t totally grossed out.
The lasagna, overall, is getting negative reviews. On Instagram, comments ranged from “NO!” to “So stupid.” That’s probably not the reaction the restaurant was looking for. Over on Twitter, pasta fans couldn’t help but feel terrified.
*Gets email*
— Jacob Gallant (@JHGallant) January 22, 2019
"Villa Italian Kitchen is proud to announce the addition of an exciting new catering package: the world’s first-ever Gender Reveal Lasagna!"
*Blocks sender*
Just got a fun email about “gender reveal lasagna”🤔🤔
— Ellie Mirmazaheri (@ellie_mir) January 22, 2019
Oh, & it included this awesome (& appealing..??) pic of said lasagna.
Like.... whyyyyy!!!!🤦🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/kRxldQQUSm
me upon reading the phrase "gender reveal lasagna" pic.twitter.com/q6WeMzRT5q
— milf™ (@bong_sewer) January 22, 2019
Others chose to crack jokes. And, not going to lie, some of them are pretty incredible.
lasagNO
— A.J. (@ajhisnandez) January 22, 2019
i think you mean.... lasag𝐧𝐚𝐡
— AL THE PAL 2: THE PAL-ENING 🍳 (@althepaI) January 23, 2019
I did this as a way of announcing the baby WAS the lasagna
— Mason Lorek (@MasonLorek) January 23, 2019
Seriously, though — what would Garfield think?
The lasagna is offensive for a few reasons. For one, it just doesn’t look safe to eat. Secondly, the dye isn’t even all that clear, as plenty of people thought it was green, which is the color of “we’re waiting until birth to find out.” And third, the cost is almost criminal. Lasagna isn’t an expensive dish to make. Also? Many feel that gender reveal parties are an outdated (and technically inaccurate) way to present your baby’s sex. Blue for boy and pink for girl? How reductive.
Plus, it makes lasagna — and let’s be honest, millennials — look bad.
Fingers crossed this was all just a publicity stunt that may have backfired. Just remember, if you’re planning on a gender reveal, a cake is probably the best way to go.
