NEW ORLEANS – The Italian American Marching Club kicked off its St. Joseph Parade celebration by taking a big bite out of the world’s largest pasta bowl.

The pasta lunch, which is free and open to the public, serves up 500 pounds of pasta, topped with gravy.

It’s a precursor to the 47th Italian American Marching Club St. Joseph Parade, which rolls Saturday at 6 p.m. in the French Quarter.

Get more info on the parade here.