I can't stop thinking about the espresso pasta I enjoyed at Bellina Alimentari. It takes a minute to realize there's espresso in the pasta because the coffee flavor is not overwhelming at all, but we loved how it underscored the richness of the mushrooms in the sauce. I'd love to try making this at home. — Sandra Katz, Decatur
Executive chef Brandon Hughes created this pasta as a tie-in to the "Passione Italiana: The Art of Espresso" exhibit now on display at the Museum of Design Atlanta. The exhibit runs through June 9. He paired the pasta with a creamy mushroom and kale sauce. "The earthiness of the sauce really compliments the pasta's subtle coffee flavor. Since the exhibit highlights the art of Italian coffee, we thought this dish was a great representation of how to use espresso in a creative and unique way."
In his instructions for the pasta, Hughes notes that long kneading is important as you are mixing the dough. “It develops the gluten in the flour and prevents the dough from tearing apart later on. Dust your work surface with flour as you are kneading to keep the dough from becoming sticky.”
Semolina flour is widely available these days in grocery and natural food stores that carry alternative flours. Double zero (00) flour is harder to come by and you may need to order it online. (If all else fails, try making the pasta with cake flour. It works, although the texture will be a bit different.)
If you’re interested in making pasta at home but want some hands-on instruction, try one of Bellina’s Pasta 101 classes offered each month.
From the menu of … Bellina Alimentari, Ponce City Market, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave., Atlanta. 404-330-9933. bellina-alimentari.com/
Is there a recipe from a metro Atlanta restaurant you’d like to make at home? Tell us and we’ll try to get it. We’ll also test it and adapt it for the home kitchen. Because of volume, we can’t answer all inquiries. Send your request, your address and phone number to fromthemenu@gmail.com and put “From the menu of” and the name of restaurant in the subject line.
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