Killer Fresh Pasta for Cooking at Home
August/September 2018 93
SHUTTERSTOCK; OPPOSITE: ALAN BLAUSTEIN
While lingering over beautifully
sauced noodles in a local
restaurant is a great way to
achieve blissful sustenance,
there’s another approach
that is cheaper and doesn’t
involve a check at the end of
the meal. Sure, most supermarkets
sell “fresh” pasta as
well as the dried stuff, but try
these other sources if you’re
picky about your carbs.
Saporito Pasta The odds
are high that some of the
wonderful pasta you consumed
in a local restaurant
actually came from this
Redwood City wholesale specialist,
whose sizable array
of terrific noodles and filled
pastas is the secret source for
restaurants like Pezzalla’s Villa
Napoli in Sunnyvale, Carpaccio
and Trellis in Menlo Park, Cafe
Pro Bono and Local Union 271
in Palo Alto and many others,
not to mention the cafes at
Google, Facebook and more.
But you can buy it yourself at
Sigona’s in Redwood City and
Palo Alto, Milk Pail in Mountain
View and Draeger’s markets.
Pasta Pasta Like the ultimate
candy store for pasta
lovers, this wonderful spot
produces all kinds of noodles,
including specialty items like
squid ink linguine and spinach
fettucine as well as all sizes
and shapes of pasta. Then
there are the dozen-plus ravioli,
filled with everything from
sweet peas and butternut
squash to mushroom medley
and roasted garlic with chevre.
The many sauces, too, are outstanding,
making a divine meal
at home as easy as boiling
water. 125 E. Fourth Ave., San
Mateo; www.pastapastaco.com
Bertucelli’s La Villa A
longtime institution in Willow
Glen, this funky little Italian
deli also happens to make
a few excellent fresh ravioli
flavors, which are sold fresh
and fresh-frozen, with little
difference apparent. The list
includes cheese, meat, chicken,
feta and lobster, with these
irresistible little pillows stuffed
with goodness. The lobster
ravs, in particular, are not to
be missed. And while there, be
sure to order a meatball sub
or take home a slice or two of
the unbelievable crème brulée
cheesecake. 1319 Lincoln Ave.,
San Jose; www.wglavilla.com
Antipastos by DeRose
Another family-run Italian deli
in San Jose, this little spot
sells boxes filled with their
homemade ravs, which come in
flavors that include meat, vegetarian,
cheese and chicken.
The price is definitely right for
these plump pillows, which fans
insist should be paired with
the house’s tomato basil cream
sauce. 3454 McKee Rd., San
Jose; www.antipastosdeli.com
Florentine Trattoria A
popular spot for down-home
Italian food, this busy restaurant
also offers a few takeout
pasta and sauce items for
home cooks. The options, sold
by the pound, include ravioli,
tortellini and gnocchi along
with eight different housemade
sauces sold by the pint.
Also, the restaurant has a
massive pasta list for those
who want their food already
cooked and ready for reheating
in the microwave. 14510
Big Basin Way, Saratoga; www.
florentinetrattoria.com
