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Pasta perfection
Celebrating the classic Italian dish: Spaghetti
By Angele Sionna
Published on 11/05/2009
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October was National Italian American Heritage Month, which got us thinking about one of the most popular dishes at Italian restaurants across the country—spaghetti.
Lots of cultures (Italian, Chinese, Arab and Greek) claim the invention of spaghetti (the pasta), dating back thousands of years. But the spaghetti dish as we know it today complete with a tomato sauce is much, much younger. Tomatoes are native to the Americas and they weren’t combined with pasta until modern times. According to www.inmamaskitchen.com, the first recipe bringing together tomatoes and pasta was written in 1839 by Ippolito Cavalcanti, Duke of Buonvicino, and the spaghetti dishes we love today came to America with the huge Italian immigration in the early 1900s. Here’s a look at where in Flagstaff, you can dine on the classic Italian entrée.
Pasto Cucina Italiana
19 E. Aspen Ave.
779-1937
www.pastorestaurant.com
For fine Italian dining and spaghetti, Pasto is your place.
This romantic restaurant brings the love with its Spaghettini e Polpette (spaghetti and spicy meatballs), which are the best in town. The spiciness in this sauce is more flavor than burn and is sure to please. It comes in two sizes. The large is a slim portion, so I wouldn’t opt for the small unless you’re ordering for a child or its going to be just one of many courses for you that night. Pasto makes their own pasta as well as the meatballs and sauce, as you’d expect from a high-end restaurant. They open at 5 p.m. everyday (besides Sunday) for dinner only.
Dominic’s Italian Bistro
1850 N. Ft. Valley Road
779-6400
www.flagstaffpizza.com
From the recipes of Great Grandma Lucia comes the bold, home-style taste of the spaghetti at Dominic’s. They give you a plentiful portion, just like grandma would. Dominic’s menu says, “We’re not pretentious here—we proudly serve old fashioned one-of-a-kind comfort foods at an affordable price,” and that does seem to be what you get there. Dominic’s serves up this classic dish (with meatballs or chicken if you want for a few bucks extra) from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 5–8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Pesto Brothers
120 N. Leroux, Ste. 104 (in the Old Town Shops downtown)
774-3020
www.pestobrothers.com
The family-run Pesto Brothers has a homey feel and classic food. The walls are decorated with pictures of the owner’s kids and you get that same kind of detail with your meal. Pesto Brothers saves their spaghetti just for the dinner crowd. Order the Papa Tony’s (a.k.a. spaghetti with meatballs) from 5–9 p.m. any night of the week.
Mamma Luisa Italian Restaurant
2710 N. Steves Blvd. (at Kachina Square)
526-6809
Mamma Luisa is a family joint serving Flagstaff for almost three decades. It may be tucked inside a strip mall but you’d never guess it from the cozy atmosphere inside. Spaghetti here comes served several ways: with tomato sauce, meatballs, meat sauce or mild Italian sausage. All come with soup or a salad. You can order this dish at dinner only, which is served 4:30–9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4:30–9:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Strombolli’s Italian Restaurant
1435 S. Milton Road
773-1960
Strombolli’s also serves up this classic dish. Here you can order spaghetti with tomato sauce, marinara, spicy Italian sausage or meatballs. If you were wondering, Strombolli’s says the tomato sauce has a pork base and the marinara is a vegetarian sauce with more of a spice to it. The spaghetti is served with soup or salad 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Roma Pizza
1800 S. Milton Road
779-4425
www.romapizzaflag.com
Needing a spaghetti fix later than your typical dinner time? Then Roma Pizza is the place to go. This little spot near campus serves up spaghetti and meatballs with a house-made marinara sauce everyday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It comes with breadsticks too.
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