New pasta bar offers comfort food in hard times
New pasta bar soothes customers' woes during the pandemic with affordable meals
Opening a new restaurant is a bit like birthing a baby; no matter how carefully an entrepreneur plans, restaurants sometimes come into the world on their own timeline. This is something that Yash Sharma just learned the hard way — after cooking in high-end hotels, on cruise lines, and at local restaurants, Sharma had a long-term dream of opening his own place. He knew that COVID-19 was going to be an issue as he planned to open his YYC Pasta Bar early this past fall, but delays pushed it to late November, right before the second pandemic-related restaurant shutdown in Alberta. His baby had chosen the most inopportune moment to make its debut.
But, like every other owner-operator in the city, Sharma has pressed on and Calgarians have been getting to know his food through takeout, awaiting the opportunity to dine-in in person. Originally from India, Sharma's culinary career has been rooted in his love for Italian food (his most recent gig was as executive chef at Toscana Italian Grill). When it came time to conceptualize his own business, he wanted to take advantage of his expertise while also responding to concerns about cost and comfort.
The result is a made-to-order pasta bar that is best enjoyed in person while also being suitable for takeout. Sharma makes his pasta in-house and customers create their own combinations of noodles, sauce, goodies like clams, meatballs, or Italian sausage, and vegetable add-ons. The base pasta with sauce is $11.99, with additional charges for the extras — making it one of the best dinner deals in the Beltline.
Of course, not all of us have the knack to put together a masterful pasta creation, so Sharma also offers chef's selections to help customers along, with choices ranging from a classic Penne Arrabiata with roasted peppers and onions ($15) to a luxurious lobster ravioli in vodka sauce ($16) and more involved items like baked lasagna ($17) and mushroom risotto ($17). Those set dishes can also be customized on request. Sharma figures that giving people what they want while still holding onto his culinary vision is a recipe for pandemic comfort.
“I want to give people what they want,” Sharma says. “People have lost so much over the past year and they don't have a lot of money right now. I want to earn my guests with our quality and when things go back to normal they'll still be here to support my business.”
YYC Pasta Bar is located at 1322a 17th Ave. S.W. and can be reached at 403-764-9777 or yycpastabar.ca.
Speaking of pasta, the local La Mano brand of pasta products has been quietly selling fresh pasta and sauces in boutique markets. Helmed by Aaron Ellard (Nights and Weekends) and chef Mike Pigot, the pasta has already won plenty of fans, but this month La Mano expanded to include what they've dubbed their “pasta club.”
Every month, club members receive two kinds of pasta, a specially prepared sauce and a recipe, with guest chefs pitching in to come up with exciting combinations. Pasta clubbers sign up for a monthly subscription but can skip months or withdraw from the program at any point. For more information, visit pastalamano.com.
That Mike Pigot is a busy guy. In addition to contributing to La Mano, he's also launched a burger takeout pop-up called Pigot's Burger Club, which specializes in big, sloppy, cheesy burgers (and veggie burgers made with Impossible patties), all available for delivery through major third-party delivery apps. For the full scoop, visit pigotsburgerclub.com.
And in non-pasta news, diners looking for a luxurious, properly plated hot meal might want to opt for a short hotel staycation here in the city. Hotels are not only open, but are, for the most part, sparsely populated and required to observe rigorous safety protocols. Several are taking advantage of their inhouse restaurants with room service deals. The downtown Le Germain Hotel, home to the much-celebrated Charcut restaurant, is offering a package that features a four-course meal that includes Charcut's famous charcuterie, a soup or salad, gourmet entree, and dessert, all brought up to guest rooms safely and contact-free. Guests need to room with someone from their household or cohort, but it's also a delightful solo outing for anyone who needs a night away from their household after 10 months of living in close quarters. The packages can be booked at germainhotels.com.
Hotel Arts also has put together some swishy staycation packages. Under the direction of executive chef Quinn Staple, the hotel has scheduled “dinner and a movie” room service packages that include a creatively themed dinner and a credit to watch an on-demand movie. Special Valentine's Day room service menus will also be offered at both the main hotel and its Kensington location for the romantically inclined. For full details, visit hotelarts.ca.
People have lost so much over the past year and they don't have a lot of money right now. I want to earn my guests with our quality.