World Pasta Day: the best excuse to scoff all the spaghetti we could ever want
World Pasta Day is just around the corner, and though we could eat pasta penne day of the week, now we have an excuse to scoff all the spaghetti we could ever want. Try out these restaurants and pop-ups for the tastiest tagliatelle and premier pappardelle of them all. Buon appetito!
La mia Mamma, Chelsea
What better way to celebrate than with authentic homemade pasta made by real Italian mammas? Every season, Chelsea eatery La mia Mamma “imports” a new mamma (or chef) from a different Italian region to create a selection of delicious regional dishes. Right now that region is sun-kissed Sicily, known for its creative blend of flavours, so you’ll find no average arrabbiatta or boring bolognese here. Try their creamy pistachio pesto with ricotta, or treat your tastebuds to Sicilian cherry tomatoes and Italian bacon.
Pasta Remoli, Finsbury Park
After training in Rome for years, Simone Remoli first took Stratford by storm back before delighting Finsbury with his traditional pasta dishes, and soon Londoners residing on the western side of the city will no longer be left out, with the third branch of the cosy restaurant opening soon in Ealing Broadway. Here, you get to choose your style of pasta, your sauce and even your cheese separately, so you know you’re getting exactly what you want, but there’s also suggestions from the chef himself if you prefer an Italian prerogative: we’d recommend the truffle ravioli with the mushroom sauce.
Caractère, Notting Hill
Combining their love of classic French and Italian food, couple Emily Roux and Diego Ferrari have just opened a new West London fusion restaurant just in time for a World Pasta Day celebration. The menu includes dishes they love to cook for each other at home (aww) and is based around six ‘characteristics’: try out the celeriac “cacio e pepe” with extra-aged balsamic vinegar from the ‘Subtle’ section, or if you’re more of a ‘Robust’ section kind of diner, give the seared oxtail ravioli a go.
Officina 00, Old Street
This new fresh pasta restaurant and workshop from Executive Chef Elia Sebregondi and Director Enzo Mirto brings together regional Italian recipes with artisanal pastas, prepared before diners in a theatre kitchen. The collaboration is the result of years of planning from founders Elia and Enzo, who grew up together in Naples. After travelling the world together and sharing their passion for food they both settled in London, rising through the ranks of Soho House and Kiln, before deciding to open their own venture.
Mele E Pere, Soho
Family-run Mele e Pere’s seasonal menu uses British produce to recreate some of the dishes founders Peter and Chris grew up eating during their childhood in northern Italy. Dishes include fresh pasta made in-house daily, as well as homemade gelatos and foccacia. Below their street-level aperitivo bar sits the main dining room and dedicated vermouth bar which hosts one of London’s largest selections of vermouths, and their very own red and white vermouths on tap.
Maremma, Brixton
Maremma is a neighbourhood specialising in simple and regional specialities, Maremma’s short menu takes inspiration from the Maremma, the unspoilt coastal region in southern Tuscany famous for its salami, seafood, olive groves and vineyards. Maremma’s concise wine menu has been hand selected by Founder Dickie Bielenberg and long standing private chef Alice Staples. Dickie, a born and bred Brixton resident now splits his time between there and his home in Campiglia Marittima, in the Maremma, where he sources the best bottles from small producers, which will be making their debut to British soil, and stocking Maremma’s shelves.