Where to buy the best pasta?

[mr_cb7]

What is the best tasting pasta brand available retail in the MTL area?

[mattlane]

As posted above, I second the motion re. Rustichella D'Abruzzo - pricey at $5 a box, but you get whet you pay for. Really the best.

I don't eat pasta that often, so the price is not a big deal. If you have a family, or eat pasta a lot, I'd suggest Garofalo as a good, well made alternative Italian hard pasta at around $2.50 for 500g.

Both are definitwly a cut above Barilla which is now, regrettably, no longer made in Italy.

Best,

Matt

[Glaff]

Yes, I'd go for Milano, but La baie des fromages is worth the visit too.

Look for this brand if you're looking for one of the best : http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_U299Y4dlqys... (I actually think La baie des fromages have a biggest selection of these ones)

[westaust]

That brand can also be found at Les Douceurs du Marché at Atwater Market, and they have a fairly large selection of shapes

[Maximilien]

Yep, that's "my" brand of pasta.

And that pasta, Fregola Sarda, in particular was my most recent discovery in pasta-land.

[mr_cb7]

Great. I will definitely check that one out. Thanks everybody.

[rosario]

100% agree with that brand - approx. $4.49/500g. I use it always except when I make my own fresh pasta.

[InterFoodie]

When I’m looking to buy fresh pasta, I go to Pasta Casareccia
They have a good assortment of fresh, dry pasta and other Italian specialities.

I recently returned from Italy where I would buy fresh truffle stuffed ravioli for two $4 euros!
Real truffles, not essenece oil or truffle aroma.
When I asked what sauce to use, the owner told me that if I used any sauce, she would not sell me anymore. LOL
She suggested just olive oil and freshly grated Parmigianno Reggiano cheese.
It was the best pasta I have ever had; I had to go back several times.
I was thinking of throwing all my clothes out and stuffing my suitcase with pasta, but realized that the pesky Canada customs beagle would sniff me out.

Is there a place in Montreal that does truffle pasta?

PASTA CASARECCIA
5849 Sherbrooke street west. (Corner Draper)
514.483.1588

[Maximilien]

Probably at Milano on St-Laurent blvd.

[Mr F]

Agree with Max: Milano has a huge selection of dried pastas from Italy, and good fresh pasta.

I haven't tried many of the high-end imported brands ($$$), but occasionally one of them goes on sale. Conclusion: just about any fancy artisanal Italian pasta is probably going to be better than any of the widely available brands.

Among the mass-market brands, I've found Del Verde and Barilla perfectly acceptable, but not really special either.

[mr_cb7]

Thanks. Thats Marché Milano? I'm looking for a good high end pasta. $$$ isn't an issue its just for every once and awhile.

[kpzoo]

Milano Fruiterie
6862 St Laurent Montreal, QC H2S 3C7
[phone]
https://plus.google.com/1031138575773...
closed Sundays

[Mr F]

No, it's open Sundays. According to Yelp it's 8 to 5, but I'm not completely sure the 8 a.m. opening time is accurate.

[kpzoo]

Ah - that must be fairly new, thanks for the heads-up! I always seem to be in the neighbourhood on Sunday, and it's always been closed.

[kpzoo]

Wow, not only are they now open Sundays, they've completely reconfigured the store and have a bunch of new features, including a section with cooking & baking supplies and another with prepared foods like roast chicken (1/2 chicken for $5, whole for $10), soups (I got 500 mL of delicious carrot-ginger soup for under $2), lasagna and eggplant parmagiana. Lots of staff on hand to help find things and answer questions, too. Very nice.