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gandro Jul 6, 2009 02:18 AM

Local fresh ravioli

Do any of you have any brands of local fresh ravioli that you can recommend.
Either supermarket brands or from a pasta shop.
Thanks

  1. n
    Nancy Berry Jul 8, 2009 10:17 AM

    Last week we went down to Pescadero and visited Harley Farms, where they make and sell absolutely wonderful goat cheeses, including a fabulous ricotta. We saw some folks buying boxes of frozen ravioli and decided to try them. Well, last night I served them and they were great! I guess you can call them "local" because they're from San Mateo County. I think that they are only available at the farm. You can also ask at Norm's Market in Pescadero -- they carry many Harley Farm cheeses. If you can't get them there, then Harley Farms is only a 2 or 3 minute drive down Pescadero Rd. (away from Highway 1) from there, on North (left.)

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    Harley Farms
    205 North St, Pescadero, CA

    1. kungful Jul 7, 2009 01:23 PM

      I would first like to second the suggestion for the Pasta Shop (not the frozen stuff) at Rockridge.
      I would also recommend Genova's Deli in the Temescal area of Oakland. You can find thier stuff in the frozen section of many area grocerers, but going to the source and getting fresh is always best.

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      Genova Delicatessen & Ravioli
      5095 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

      2 Replies
      1. re: kungful
        3
        3ringcircus Jul 8, 2009 12:25 AM

        Genova's pasta factory is right off of highway 24, just before the 24/680 interchange.

        1. re: 3ringcircus
          Robert Lauriston Jul 8, 2009 09:50 AM

          The Genova Deli referred to above is in the mall on the west side of Telegraph at 51st. They have a factory at at 42nd and Telegraph, but it's not open to the public.

          The Genova Delis in Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill do not appear to be connected with the one in Oakland:

          http://www.genovadeli.net/deli-menu.asp

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          Genova Delicatessen & Ravioli
          5095 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94609

      2. m
        mustardgirl Jul 7, 2009 11:43 AM

        Trader Joes has good fresh pasta at reasonable prices
        Lobster, mushroom,etc

        1. n
          Nancy Berry Jul 7, 2009 07:45 AM

          I really like the ravioli from Sergio's Pasta Shop on E. 4th Ave. in San Mateo -- across the street from Draeger's. They used to sell at the College of San Mateo Farmers Market, but they now sell from this shop. Their ravioli are beautifully made with lots of traditional and unusual filling choices. Flavors that I love include artichoke, goat cheese, porcini, and spinach & cheese. Here's a link to a list of their pastas:

          http://www.sergiospastashop.com/#

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          Sergio's Pasta Shop
          205 E 4th Ave, San Mateo, CA

          1 Reply
          1. re: Nancy Berry
            Pincho Jul 7, 2009 05:59 PM

            I second Sergio's. High quality and the prices are quite reasonable. I particularly enjoy the butternut squash, and appreciate that their rendition is less sweet than most, allowing the squash flavor to shine through. Wonderful tossed with a simple sage butter.

            Though, the OP asked for fresh and I'm not sure how much "fresh and never frozen" (if that's what's meant) inventory they have - I typically buy it from Sergio's frozen. I would rather have great-quality ravioli individually frozen after being made, over the rubbery garbage they sell as "fresh pasta" from the refrigerated sections in a typical grocery store. I've been consistently happy with the results from Sergio's.

          2. k
            katya Jul 6, 2009 11:59 AM

            I'm sure this isn't what you're looking for, but I tried La Villa Deli in San Jose's Willow Glen neighborhood last week for the first time, and it was the first time I felt like ravioli literally melted in my mouth. I'm not usually the biggest fan of meat ravioli but this was the best I've ever had - tiny pillows filled with beef, spinach, and an undetectable trace of Romano cheese (I only know because I asked later).

            It's solely a takeout operation with a few tables outside. Most people who go in leave with a container of the ravioli (a half pint of their hot ravioli is plenty for lunch for $6 and it includes their tomato sauce).

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            Bertucelli's La Villa Deli
            1319 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, CA 95125

            1. BernalKC Jul 6, 2009 09:55 AM

              There is a pretty wide variety of choices. Depends on what you like.

              I like Lucca's raviolis and have stocked them in my freezer for decades. Nothing terribly creative or unusual here, just classic recipe, hand-made ravioli. Fresh or frozen. Can't go wrong with that.

              But recently I've been buying "The Pasta Shop" brand ravioli at Rainbow because the fillings are more varied and interesting. They are larger. I also think they are -- how to put this? -- built like tanks. With Lucca's, if I overcook them they explode - and some will pop if they get damaged on the way to the water, sticking to the box, or just ripping. They are more delicate where the Pasta Shop species are more sturdy -- and that's not an entirely good thing at all. But I put up with the thick skin because of the fillings. I've had the same sort of trade off with other farmer's market ravioli too.

              3 Replies
              1. re: BernalKC
                Ruth Lafler Jul 6, 2009 11:01 AM

                There's an inescapable trade-off with ravioli: if the individual skins are sturdy enough to contain the filling when boiled, then the edges where they are double thickness are too chewy, and of course the opposite applies: when the skins are thinner at the doubled edges, they're fragile in the middle.

                1. re: BernalKC
                  emmaroseeats Jul 7, 2009 10:06 AM

                  A second to both of these (or is Lucca getting a 6th?). Lucca's and The Pasta Shop - which I think you can get at the Saturday Ferry Building FM in addition to Rainbow.

                  I also like the stuffed pastas made by Molinari and I pick them up at Mastrelli's Deli in the Ferry Building.

                  There is also fresh pasta at the Crocker Galleria FM on Thursdays but I can't remember what the purveyor's name is...oops.

                  1. re: BernalKC
                    Windy Jul 7, 2009 11:22 PM

                    Frozen is better than fresh in this regard. Lucca's cheese ravioli tastes as good frozen to me as fresh does.

                    Also use a bigger pot so they have more room to swim.

                  2. Robert Lauriston Jul 6, 2009 08:51 AM

                    Phoenix is good.

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                    Phoenix Pastificio
                    1250 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94702

                    2 Replies
                    1. re: Robert Lauriston
                      Ruth Lafler Jul 6, 2009 09:06 AM

                      Phoenix is amazing, but expensive, especially their filled pastas. I usually buy Il Pastaio, which is sold at farmers markets, although some of their filled pastas aren't as good as others.

                      http://www.ilpastaiofoods.com/

                      1. re: Ruth Lafler
                        Caitlin McGrath Jul 8, 2009 12:28 PM

                        I really like Phoenix's cut pastas, but I have never been impressed with their ravioli which is, as Ruth says, incredibly expensive. Pasta Shop ravioli is much better than Phoenix, in my experience, and not nearly as expensive, though not cheap.

                    2. s
                      skwid Jul 6, 2009 08:47 AM

                      The Pasta Shop in Oakland at Rockridge Market Hall has very fine fresh ravioli of several different stuffings. They also sometime use different flavored pasta dough. The Pasta Shop is right across the street from the Rockridge BART station.

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                      Pasta Shop
                      5655 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

                      1. b
                        Bruce in SLO Jul 6, 2009 06:52 AM

                        We love the fresh daily meat ravioli from Lucca Deli at 1100 Valencia near the Mission District. They also have frozen varieties. Try their meat sauce or the fresh pesto.

                        4 Replies
                        1. re: Bruce in SLO
                          d
                          DavidT Jul 6, 2009 09:07 AM

                          2nd the rec for Lucca Deli on Valencia. They make a good pumpkin ravioli in the fall. The selection of Italian wine there is quite good. Best of all, they have a free parking lot next door!

                          1. re: Bruce in SLO
                            BernalKC Jul 6, 2009 09:56 AM

                            adding a link:

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                            Lucca Ravioli
                            1100 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110

                            1. re: Bruce in SLO
                              b
                              Bob Copeland Jul 7, 2009 11:03 AM

                              I like the Jumbo meat ravs from Lucca deli on Chestnut Street. Better filling to wrapper ratio than many. Not sure what connection, if any, they have with Lucca's on Valencia.

                              It's a combination of beef and spinach in the filling.

                              1. re: Bob Copeland
                                c
                                Calvinist Jul 8, 2009 10:37 AM

                                Like them both. There is no connection between them (Lucca is a town in Italy).

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