Fresh handmade pasta & other Italian specialties in the Houston area?

[Taralli]

Any fresh handmade pasta shops in Houston &/or Italian salumarias w/imported cheeses, curied meats, olive oils, aged balsamics in area? How about Italian pastry shops? Would prefer to pick up here rather than bring from Boston.

[grbroderick]

I'd recommend D'Amico's in Rice Village -- they're a cafe as well as a specialty Italian market. They will have everything but the pastries -- don't recall seeing those anywhere at D'Amico's. You can also have lunch there if you want!

[pamelarobert]

I second the recommend for D'Amico's in Rice Village for the pasta & specialty Italian items.

[brucesw]

I just stumbled on this today:

http://www.fabiosbarandgrill.com/fres...

There used to be several pasta 'factories' in town, Gianotti's on Bissonnet and there was one in the Village, I think. I just assumed they'd pretty much been wiped out by the ready availability of refrigerated pastas in just about any grocery store.

[WtotheN]

I wholeheartedly agree with all of the recommendations above for the cheeses, oils, etc. Do make sure you check out the Smith Street Spec's as DW mentioned - it's got the largest selection by far of all Spec's locations. And Central Market may be your best shot for fresh pastas. They are already packaged, so maybe not as uber-fresh as you're used to, but I've found them to be quite good -- they are in the deli section right next to the olives.

For pastry shops, frankly you may be better served bringing pastries from Boston. Nundini's *might* have some of what you're looking for, but overall my experience is that Houston has better Mexican pastries and Middle Eastern pastries than Italian ones.

[aynrandgirl]

Nundini Italian Deli and Food Store

http://www.nundini.com/foodstore.html

[Taralli]

ARG, thanks for the req. These are the kinds of places I'm trying to find: http://www.davesfreshpasta.com/index.html or http://salumeriaitaliana.com/

[DoobieWah]

My fave.

http://www.phoeniciafoods.com/products.html

And five minutes from home. (I'm such a lucky dog... err "Hound")!

Another nearby shop with a slightly different, though smaller selection:

http://www.leibmans.com/

Our premiere grocer, (if I may be so bold), is

http://www.centralmarket.com/Stores/Houston.aspx

Lastly, found all over town is

http://www.specsonline.com/

If you suddenly realize you need German mustard and it's between the hours of 10am and 9pm, Monday through Saturday, try Spec's. There will probably be one within a few miles of you. The mid-town headquarters is a great stop with an extensive gourmet and imported food selection, but any one will have the basics to get you through a meal.

Enjoy your stay.

[Taralli]

Tx, DW. We love Phoenicia & are w/in walking distance. Picked up assorted cheeses, olives, prosecco, etc. yesterday for Thanksgiving, but looks like I'll be sending a care package ahead and handcarrying the fresh ravioli and handcut pasta to Houston for Xmas. For Xmas breakfast, bro' picks up panettoni from Phoenicia for French toast we sprinkle w/cardamon & drizzle w/fruit syrup, like homemade blood orange, pomegranate, etc. Happy Holidays to all.

[DoobieWah]

Can I bring anything?

;-)

[ryback]

If you try for food in a Spec's that is in a center with a major food chain e.g. Kroeger you will be sadly disappointed as they don;t carry much food. I guess it's a lease issue.