Fresh. Homemade. Free Range. These aren’t phrases you would usually associate with food on-the-go, but Pasta Café’s chef Martin van der Walt has perfected the amalgamation to provide patrons with, as he puts it, ‘wholesome and simple food’. Located in Randburg, Johannesburg, Pasta Café is one of the first establishments in South Africa to introduce a Gluten-free Pasta Wrap; showing that the restaurant is a front runner when it comes to modern food innovations.
The Pasta Wrap is rolled out pasta, pan fried to create a crisp tortilla-style wrap which can be combined with any filling. “The Pasta Wrap is a great addition to our already crafty menu, allowing our patrons to experience the allure that is authentic homemade pasta in an artisan manner,” says Sammy Pillay, owner of Pasta Café and mom to a busy toddler. Family bonds are a key component at Pasta Café as Sammy explains that she along with so many busy mom’s out there require on-to-go food solution which she would willingly feed her entire family.
“Pasta Café provides the solution as all our dishes are fresh, free range and absolutely no preservatives have been added. That means no artificial flavouring, MSG or powder based stocks are used in our food preparation.”
Pasta is made fresh on site continuously throughout the day and although the menu includes some old time favourite’s like Bolognese, Alfredo and Lasagne the true appeal of the restaurant lies in the create-your-own pasta, salad or wrap. Chef Martin recommends the Smoked Salmon with Linguini or the Chicken and Chilli wrap with Basil. It has taken Martin over a year to perfect the Gluten-free recipe and lends the success of the food to his hands-on approach in the kitchen, combining fresh ideas and perspectives, while using his heritage as an extraordinary resource.
The restaurant also has a delivery option to businesses in the area and has introduced the following speciality days for the remainder of 2015:
1. Daily – Breakfast Wrap and Coffee : R45 (between 9:00 and 11:00)
2. Sunday – Kids under 12 eat free
3. Monday – Choose two toppings/fillings for only R 59.90
4. Wednesday – “Check-In” Facebook and receive 10% discount
What’s next for Pasta Café? Well the owners hope to expand the franchise and open restaurants in several spots around Johannesburg as early as 2016.