freshly made pasta Archives - Trattoria Toscana

Tag Archive for: freshly made pasta

The Best of Italian Gastronomy-Unforgettable Taste of Traditional Pastas

June 28, 2023/0 Comments/in Italian Cuisine/by Jay

At Trattoria Toscana, we pride ourselves on bringing the authentic taste of Italy to Temecula, CA. Our passion for traditional Italian cuisine is evident in every dish we serve, from our antipasti to desserts. But one thing truly sets us apart: our handmade pasta. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey through the world of Italian traditional pastas and share the joys of our freshly made pasta dishes.

A World of Pasta Possibilities

Italy is home to various pasta shapes and styles, each with its unique history and culinary tradition. At Trattoria Toscana, we focus on seven of the most beloved types of pasta, all crafted by hand using the finest ingredients:

Linguine
Spaghetti
Pappardelle
Gnocchi
Gnocchetti Sardi
Bucatini
Rigatoni

Whether you’re craving the delicate strands of linguine or the hearty tubes of rigatoni, our menu offers a variety of options to satisfy your pasta desires.

Reserve a Table for a Tasty Italian Pasta Experience in Temecula, CA Today!

Freshly Made Pasta: The Secret to Unforgettable Flavor

What sets our traditional pastas apart from the rest? It’s all in the process. We make our pasta fresh daily, using only the highest-quality ingredients like semolina flour, farm-fresh eggs, and pure water. This dedication to quality ensures that every bite of our pasta is tender, flavorful, and perfectly al dente.

But it’s not just the pasta that makes our dishes memorable; it’s also the sauces we pair them with. At Trattoria Toscana, we offer four classic Italian sauces that complement our pasta beautifully:

Tomato-Basil Sauce: A simple yet flavorful sauce made from ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. This sauce is perfect for those who love the taste of fresh, natural ingredients.
Pesto Sauce: A rich, aromatic blend of fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, and extra-virgin olive oil. Pesto is a versatile sauce that pairs well with many pasta shapes.
Meat Sauce: A hearty, savory sauce made from ground beef, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and Italian herbs. This sauce is ideal for a more robust and filling pasta dish.
Four Cheese Sauce: A creamy, indulgent sauce made from a blend of four Italian cheeses, including Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Fontina, and Taleggio. This sauce adds a luxurious touch to any pasta dish.

These sauces are all made from scratch with fresh, high-quality ingredients, ensuring our pasta dishes deliver an unforgettable experience.

Discover Your Perfect Pasta Pairing

With so many delicious pasta and sauce options at Trattoria Toscana, you will find a combination that delights your taste buds. Whether you’re in the mood for the classic pairing of spaghetti and meat sauce or the indulgence of pappardelle with four cheese sauces, our menu offers something for everyone.

To fully appreciate the authentic taste of Italian cuisine, we invite you to join us at Trattoria Toscana for an unforgettable meal. For an extra treat, check out our upcoming events, such as live music nights or wine tastings!

Reserve your table today and experience the magic of our freshly made pasta for yourself!

Trattoria Toscana’s Pappardelle Con Funghi – A Must-Try Dish for Italian Food Lovers

April 27, 2023/0 Comments/in Italian Cuisine/by Jay

Trattoria Toscana, located in Temecula, CA, is known for its authentic Tuscan-Sardinian-Italian cuisine. The restaurant’s Chef Pietro Cinus, takes pride in using the freshest ingredients to create the most authentic dishes. Among many of his creations, Pappardelle Con Funghi is the most popular dish that has earned rave reviews from diners. In this blog post, we’ll dive deeper into the history and taste of this signature dish.

A Brief History of Pappardelle Con Funghi

Pappardelle Con Funghi originates from the Tuscan region of Italy, where it has been enjoyed for centuries. Pappardelle, a broad and flat pasta, is a perfect match for a variety of sauces, including the funghi (mushroom) sauce. The sauce is a staple in traditional Tuscan cuisine, made by sautéing porcini and brown mushrooms with garlic, herbs, and butter. Over time, depending on the chef, other ingredients have been added to the sauce to enhance its flavors, such as different mushroom varieties, wine, and cheese.

Chef Pietro Cinus’s Outstanding Take on Pappardelle Con Funghi

The traditional Tuscan dish inspires Chef Pietro Cinus’s version of Pappardelle Con Funghi with a modern twist. He insists on using fresh pasta, made in-house using the finest ingredients, to give the dish a unique texture and flavor. The sun-dried Roma tomatoes, another ingredient that is made in-house, bring a burst of juiciness and taste to the plate.

Chef Cinus also uses a variety of mushrooms for texture, which includes shiitake, cremini, and porcini mushrooms. Combining these ingredients results in a harmonious medley of flavors that represents the essence of traditional Tuscan cuisine. Finally, the cream sauce adds a rich and indulgent taste that perfectly complements the earthiness of the mushrooms.

Pairing Your Pappardelle Con Funghi With the Perfect Glass of Vino

Let’s talk about wine pairing for your Pappardelle Con Funghi – the perfect glass of vino can take your meal to the next level! Select a wine with complementary flavors like body and sweetness to balance your meal. Choosing the right wine can make all the difference in enhancing the flavors and aromas of your dish.

Here are some options for pairing your Pappardelle Con Funghi:

Pinot Noir (medium body)
Chardonnay (light body)
Merlot (full-bodied)
Sauvignon Blanc (lightweight & dry)

How to Experience Pappardelle Con Funghi at Trattoria Toscana

Trattoria Toscana is the place to be if you’re in Temecula and want to savor the taste of authentic Tuscan-Sardinian-Italian cuisine. Chef Pietro Cinus’s Pappardelle Con Funghi is a must-try dish for Italian lovers. With its unique blend of fresh pasta, sun-dried Roma tomatoes, mushrooms, and cream sauce, this dish will surely delight your taste buds. Select a bottle of wine from the extensive wine list to complement your meal and enjoy the night like royalty.

Make a reservation at Trattoria Toscana and experience Pappardelle Con Funghi for a gustatory adventure. Savor the taste of authentic Italian cuisine and enjoy a culinary journey that will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds.

Reserve your table now and be ready for a memorable evening of Tuscan-Sardinian-Italian cuisine!

Buon appetito!

An Essential Guide to Pairing Italian Dishes with Wine

January 25, 2023/0 Comments/in Wine Pairing/by Jay

Italy has a long and proud culinary tradition. And, of course, no Italian meal would be complete without the perfect glass of wine! But what kind of wine pairs best with different Italian dishes? Read on for an essential guide to pairing Italian dishes with the perfect bottle of vino.

Pairing Wine With Pasta Dishes

You can’t go wrong with a nice Chianti with fresh pasta dishes. This full-bodied red has bold fruit flavors that cut nicely through the richness of pasta sauces like carbonara or bolognese. For lighter sauces like pesto or anything creamy, try a Soave or Pinot Grigio. These white wines have subtle citrus notes that bring out the flavor in your dish without overpowering it. Another great option is a sparkling Prosecco. Its light bubbles make it the perfect accompaniment to creamy dishes like risotto.

Pairing Wine With Pizza

A classic Margherita pizza is best paired with a light red wine like a Barbera or Valpolicella. The tart acidity in these wines complements the tomato sauce while cutting through any heavy cheese topping. If you’re having something more elaborate, like a pepperoni pizza, try going for something more full-bodied such as Amarone Valpolicella Classico. This robust red has hints of dark cherry and plum that are sure to bring out the flavor in your favorite pizza toppings!

Pairing Wine With Seafood

For seafood dishes like calamari fritti or spaghetti alle vongole, you’ll want something light and refreshing, such as Pinot Grigio or Vermentino di Gallura DOCG from Sardinia. These crisp whites have bright fruit flavors and delicate herbal notes that make them perfect for highlighting the delicate flavors in fish dishes. For heartier seafood recipes like cozze al Sugo di Pomodoro (mussels in tomato sauce), you can pair them with an aromatic white such as Gavi di Gavi or Arneis from Piedmont—the bright acidity lifts all the complex flavors in this dish!

Picking out just the right wine for your Italian meal doesn’t have to be difficult – remember to pick something that complements your dish rather than overpowering it. Red wines typically pair well with heavier pasta and pizza dishes, while light whites are better suited for seafood recipes.

For an outstanding culinary and wine experience, reserve a table at Trattoria Toscana in Temecula, CA. Chef Pietro Cinus, a native of Italy’s Sardinia Island, creates unique Italian dishes paired with wines from his homeland.

Do you want to take your wine-pairing skills to the next level?

Make a reservation for one of our Wine Pairing Dinners. Each event features Chef Pietro and Italian wine expert Petra Belliti, who guides you through a delicious meal and teaches you the essential techniques for expertly pairing wine with Italian dishes.

Whether you’re an experienced sommelier or just starting to explore the world of wine, this guide can help you find the perfect bottle of vino to complement your favorite Italian dishes. Buon appetite!

Why Does It Matter If Pasta Is Fresh?

December 14, 2022/0 Comments/in Italian Cuisine/by Jay

There’s nothing quite like a plate of freshly made pasta. But what’s so special about fresh pasta that makes it worth the extra effort? Let’s break down why fresh pasta is superior to dried and explore the difference between the two.

What is Fresh Pasta?

Fresh pasta is made with eggs, flour, and water and is prepared fresh for each meal. Unlike traditional dry pasta, which can last years in the pantry, we must refrigerate fresh pasta until you’re ready to use it. Fresh pasta also has a shorter cooking time than dry varieties—usually only 1-2 minutes—making it an excellent option for a quick but delicious meal!

The Taste Difference

The crucial difference between fresh and dried pasta lies in its taste. Fresh pasta has a light texture and subtle flavor, whereas dried pasta is usually heavier and more intense. Both types have their place at the table and can be used in various dishes, but if you’re looking for something light and delicate, fresh works best.

Texture Matters Too

Another factor that sets freshness apart from dry varieties is its texture. Dried pasta is firmer than its freshly made counterparts because of its longer cooking times. Freshly made pasta has a tenderness that simply cannot be replicated using dried versions. This softness also helps sauces adhere better to the noodles, making every bite more enjoyable!

Easier to Work With

Making fresh pasta is a labor of love, but it’s worth it! It’s much easier to work with than dry varieties. It won’t break apart or get stuck together like dried variants often do, so you can be sure that each strand will remain intact and pliable. Plus, it doesn’t require as much flour or added water to work with, making them an excellent option for those who want an easier pasta-making experience.

Fresh pasta is also more malleable than dried, so we can roll it out into thin sheets for lasagna or ravioli and even cut it into ribbons for a delicious fettuccine or tagliatelle. This makes it easy to create a wide variety of dishes with a few simple ingredients.

Are There Any Pasta Types You Need Dry?

A few pasta types work better with dry versions, especially if you’re making it at home. Any recipe that calls for the pasta to be “al dente” may work better with dry pasta because it cooks so fast. It’s easy to miss the al dente mark with fresh. However, it’s possible to achieve the same level of al dente tenderness with freshness with practice.

When it comes down to it, there’s no denying that fresh pasta is superior to store-bought varieties in terms of flavor and texture. The lightness of freshly made noodles pairs well with almost any type of sauce, while their delicate flavor creates an unforgettable eating experience. So why not take your Italian dining experience up a notch by reserving a table at Trattoria Toscana today, where we serve only freshly made pasta every day? You won’t regret it!