Handmade pasta delivered to your door
There are fewer more delicious, comforting dishes than a steaming plate of pasta. And when the pasta and its sauce are both fresh and lovingly handmade? Even better.
Founded in Surrey and born of a love for all things Italian, The Little Pasta Company is owned and run by food-loving husband and wife team, Daniel and Anouska.
This dynamic, passionate, hands-on duo do everything themselves, from making the pasta and sauces to packing the boxes ready for delivery, and you can tell.
My beautiful box arrived one morning, wrapped in ribbon and stylishly stamped with the company’s logo.
Inside was a treasure trove of gastronomic delights; a packet of thick, handmade tagliatelle, a hefty block of black truffle butter (made with real black truffle) and plenty of grated Grana Padano cheese.
With my mouth already watering, I then discovered burrata, marinated olives and antipasti, a rocket and pine nut salad and a bottle of black truffle oil.
It was an authentic Italian feast that even the toughest nonna would approve of.
The only problem was that it was 11 am, and I was going to have to wait until supper time to eat it.
I managed to hold out until early evening before tucking in; I nibbled my way through the deliciously marinated olives and antipasti whilst enjoying a large glass of Italian white (not included, FYI).
Next up I tucked into the small but perfectly formed burrata which was just as it should be; wonderfully soft and indulgently rich and creamy.
It paired perfectly with the spicy rocket and pine nut salad, all drizzled with the zingy balsamic dressing.
As you may have ascertained from my earlier description, I opted for the incredibly luxurious tagliatelle with black truffle butter - other temptations include fresh pappardelle with beef and red wine ragu, spaghetti alla carbonara and bucatini all'amatriciana.
It was incredibly simple to make in the sense that all I had to do was melt the entire block of black truffle butter, gently cook the beautifully fresh pasta, and then combine the two. Oh, and sprinkle with the grated cheese provided.
I might have also added a generous glug of the black truffle oil because, in my opinion, the truffle is one of those things you can never have too much of.
The smell was completely divine, and the taste was even better.
The mouth-watering musky aroma filled the kitchen and every earthy, slightly garlicky, buttery mouthful was a complete treat – an eyes closed ‘oh my goodness this is good’ experience - the delightfully firm texture and fresh egg flavour of the pasta lending itself perfectly to the dish.
On top of all the deliciousness, the portions were generous, so we were left feeling incredibly satisfied. More than satisfied in fact, the whole experience was wonderful; from receiving and unpacking the beautiful box to cooking and devouring its sublime contents.
It’s only when you get to sample the sheer delight of top-notch fresh pasta such as this that you realise how inferior the dried stuff and premade sauces are.
This, in my opinion, is how pasta should be eaten. And with The Little Pasta Company’s brilliant boxes starting at just £18 for two people, well, it would be rude not to.
Nationwide delivery available thelittlepastacompany.co.uk