FRESNO—In a bizarre twist on traditional dating customs, singles are now using pasta-themed pickup lines to break the ice. “Are you spaghetti because I want you to meat my balls?” asked local romantic innovator, Trent Lubbock. Experts believe this indicates a trend toward more carbohydrate-based communication in relationships.

Culinary sociologists predict this fad will only expand. “Next we’ll be hearing ‘Do you have any Italian in you? Because you look pasta-tively delicious,'” said Dr. Christine Parma. The increase in pasta-related wordplay might even lead to increased olive oil consumption at local supermarkets.

Some locals took the phenomenon too literally. “After three underwhelming ‘fettuccine fondles’ at Olive Garden, my date completely lost linguine-terest,” lamented single, Carla Marino. Fresno, looking forward, could soon have a whole new meaning for the phrase ‘pasta night.’