As the death toll from last week's calamitous earthquake in Central Italy neared 300, some Los Angeles restaurants pitched in to the relief effort by earmarking profits from a pasta dish made in the region to quake relief. Restaurants across the Southland are collecting money for earthquake relief, particularly by promoting a dish made famous in Amatrice, where the quake was centered. It's called pasta Amatriciana.

The dish is made with sauteed bacon or pancetta, plum tomatoes, fresh basil and linguine. Hundreds of Italian restaurants across California are dishing it out, with proceeds going to relief efforts.

Similar campaigns are being waged by Italian restaurants in New York, Detroit and Chicago. And civic leaders and the Italian consul general planned a candlelight vigil for sundown Monday to pray for the victims. The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is organizing a candlelight vigil for victims of the Italian earthquake. The event will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday on the South Steps of Los Angeles City Hall, 200 N. Spring St. The Italian consul general of Los Angeles is a sponsor. Mayor Eric Garcetti and city council member Joe Buscaino, both of Italian heritage, are also sponsoring it.

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Source: http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/