Convenience From Your Home

Curbside Pickup Phoenix

Meal delivery and catering has taken on many forms in the last few years, but we have not seen the need increase in such volume as we

have since March of 2020. Restaurants, deli / grocery stores, local farmers market vendors and caterers are all offering some form of home meal delivery services. Here are a few options of what is available in and around your Arizona hometown and why supporting local not only helps benefit small business but may offer convenience and a healthy alternative when making your mealtime decision.

Restaurants are Still an Option

When ordering a meal from a restaurant you can mostly count on the fact that it will be fully cooked and packaged although some restaurants have set up an actual grocery store experience. These establishments have changed their model to offer whole or portioned proteins such as chicken, steaks, and seafood. They have also separated their bulk dry good products such eggs by the dozen, pasta, rice and flour by the pound and sauces to be sold by the pint, quart, or gallon. Produce was not forgotten. With a restaurants access to a wide variety of vegetables and frequent deliveries that ensure freshness it makes sense to purchase these items from them as well. Restaurant purveyors have recognized the need and increase in demand for meal delivery and catering. The manufacturers for packaging products have too and stepped up their game creating several new options to keep your foods hot or cold with safety seals and a contactless exchange in mind. These options are well suited for meal delivery and catering as well as bulk packaged foods for home delivery or on site pick up.

Deli & Grocery Stores are Trending

With the mention of grocery stores your fist though may be the big box chains that dot the valley from one street corner to another but that is not what I am talking about here. I am referring to the independently owned markets that are family owned and operated the ones that can be found tucked away in established neighborhoods, the ones where the local’s shop on a regular basis. You are almost guaranteed to find a quality home cooked meal ready for delivery or pick up. The trend now is for these markets to fill their shelves with locally produced items. It is not uncommon to find items such as peanut butter, jarred sauces, and salsa. You may not find everything you need while shopping at these locations but the quality of the purchased items you do find is what matters most. You are also supporting a business owner who maybe your neighbor, a parent of your child’s best friend or just an honest hard-working couple traying to make a living. Please consider (Please INSERT THE PROPER LINKS TO PROVISIONS, ARCADIA, THE FARM STORE)

Packaged Meals Delivered

Caterers Specialize in Food, Trust Us

When I plan to purchase an item or service, I look for the professionals who specialize in production of that product. That is why when it is time to order your meal delivery and catering you should look to the catering professional. This is what we do, we prepare meals designed for delivery, designed to travel and designed to travel while maintaining the integrity of the ingredient used so when you sit down to enjoy your meal you are guaranteed to enjoy your meal. We are set up with the proper equipment and have designed menus to meet all needs for events of all sizes. Catering companies are run by great chefs who do not miss an opportunity to work with unique products and are committed to supporting local. A well-prepared meal using fresh local ingredient, priceless!

Farmer Markets… Fresh, Local & Fun

I have been a producer and supporter of the local farmers markets for several years. I am amazed by the variety and creativity of the venders that participate each week and each week I am almost guaranteed to find something new that I have not tried before. Most of our PASTA REA clients make the Saturday morning trip each week and stock up on supplies just as they would if they were going to a full-scale grocery store. When COVID 19 struck this need was recognized, local farmers markets were considered essential and allowed to continue operations. Of course, there were several concerns regarding social distancing and how foods were to be handled at an open-air market. The organizers of the markets answered these concerns with distanced booths mandatory gloves and masks, and some monitored the number of shoppers allowed in the area at one time. Still with these precautions’ guests were continued to be concerned and preferred contactless transactions. This resulted in a huge increase in our online sales and preorders with payment over the phone or internet in the last 6 months. Some markets enhanced their existing pre order systems by allowing clients to place an order from several market venders at one time with just a phone call or click of the mouse days before the market opens. On market day clients can choose on site curb side pick up or even home delivery. Many markets now offer this type of service and more information can easily be found, visit:

https://gatherazexpress.com/

 

 

Farmers Market Delivery

Meal delivery and catering has never been easier, sit back in the comfort of your home and let us come to you.

 

Save Your Heart, Eat Fresh Local Pasta!

It has been common knowledge for decades that eating a balanced diet rich in nutrients made with natural fresh local ingredients can help you live a longer and healthier life but where does pasta fit into that? We will explore the treasured cuisine of Italy and how the culture and the way Italians really eat has a profound affect on the life expectancy, quality and happiness of its people. Is there science behind eating fresh local pasta and staying healthy or living longer? Not all pastas are created equal and the processes used to create different pastas can affect not only the quality of the product but the overall health benefits. Let’s dive in…

Fresh Local Pasta Heart HealthThe Italian Way of Life

If you have ever had the opportunity to travel to Italy the first thing you may notice is the culture. Italians are happy, loving and sometimes loud people, they enjoy talking with their hands, eating a lot and they live with passion abundant. How do Italians eat all day and still stay fit? The culture in Italy is “Tutto di Famiglia” which means all about family, gathering is just a way of life for most Italians. Meals are often cooked from scratch with local produce, meats and cheese. Americans think of Italian food as heavy pasta and lasagna, when in fact Italians in Italy eat very light, each meal may consist of grazing on cheese and antipasti, a pasta course which is always hand rolled by someone’s Nona, a fish course, and a meat course. They typically always have dessert and let’s not forget about the wine! Their portions are small, and their meals are slow and often take hours as they converse and share, never a mad dash to fit as much in as possible. The life expectancy of an Italian living in Italy is around 84 years old compared to around 75 in the United States. It is apparent that the close family environment and the fresh food, lots of activities, wine and walking have allowed Italians to thrive and live their best lives.

Where is the Proof?

The correlation between eating pasta and living a longer happier life is more than just a theory. The Cardiovascular Institute has been studying the affects of different foods on our bodies for quite some time now and a recent study conducted by U.S. National Institutes of Health-AARP of about 416,000 men and woman showed that over 16 years the people who had diets rich in plants and other complex proteins were in superior health to those who primarily consumed meats and processed foods. Pasta in general is a plant-based process and yes while some pasta’s do have eggs most pasta, especially fresh handmade pasta like Pasta Rea is made up of a mix of flours, purified water & sea salt. Also, in general people who primarily ate things like fresh pasta, vegetables, eggs, cheese and fish lived a more active lifestyle than those who ate mostly red meats and processed dinners. The actual energy and overall feeling of well-being was greater among those people who consumed these nutrient rich foods that were made with simple ingredients and prepared at home.

So Pasta is Good for You, Now What?

Fresh Ingredients Fresh Pasta PhoenixNot all pasta is the same, in fact, pasta that is produced in factory’s, dried and boxed and sitting on your grocery shelf is not quite the same as the fresh pasta we make here at Pasta Rea. You will notice a night and day difference upon inspecting the ingredient list on your favorite store brand pasta vs. our label. If only three simple ingredients produce amazing pasta then why do some big companies and manufacturers put things like calcium propionate, potassium sorbate, and sodium dithioacetate in their pastas? That’s not all, a blind taste test showed that 9/10 people preferred fresh whole pasta than boxed/processed pasta. It cooks faster and has a purity in taste that just can’t be manufactured. The best pastas are extruded on Italian machines operated by hand like ours. Semolina and Durham flours create an amazing balance of texture and when made properly with the correct pure water ratio and sea salt it’s a straightforward process. Making pasta at home is easy and fun as well if you have the correct tools. Pasta of any kind really does allow you to live a longer and healthy life, but fresh local pasta will always be our choice!

Eat local fresh pasta, stay healthy & Vive Bene!

Learn More: https://www.newsweek.com/pasta-bread-lower-risk-death-1517549

By: Sasha Holt

Pasta Rea-Fresh-Pasta-Phoenix

Italian Food Delivery & Catering in Phoenix

ITALIAN FESTIVAL OF ARIZONA 2018

 

Serving fresh pasta bowls at the Italian Festival of Arizona for the third year proved to be another exciting experience!  Music, food, wine, beautiful weather. . . . all the ingredients for a great weekend!

Chef Tony serving pasta bowls

PASTA BOWLS

With such a great selection of Italian food, we were thrilled to sell hundreds of fresh pasta bowls: gigli, rigatoni, and lumache with a choice of bolognaise, alfredo, pesto, and marinara sauce.  And of course, our famous lasagna (both bolognaise and spinach mushroom) was on the menu as was our gluten free eggplant parmesan.  Oh, and meatballs too!!

PREPARATION

Needless to say, we were cranking out the fresh made pasta like crazy on Friday for we not only had the Italian Festival, but 3 Farmers’ markets as well.  We not only produced hundreds of pounds of fresh pasta, but also prepared 40 pans of lasagna and eggplant parmesan.  We are so pleased to be offering FRESH pasta here in Phoenix, and now have many loyal fans and clients who purchase Pasta Rea at the local markets or pre-order for pick-up at our kitchen.

Serving close to 1000 pasta bowls over the course of 2 days could be challenging for even the most experienced caterer, but with our 22 years of catering experience, we know how to prepare for events in terms of quantity, preparation, organization, and how to staff appropriately.  And, the Italian Festival was not the only event for us over the weekend.  We also catered an Awards Gala, a wedding, and a fundraiser.  We love the activity, our staff prepares and serves happily, and each event is a new experience.

Enjoying pasta bowls

 

ITALIAN CATERING

If you’re considering a catered event in the near future, we highly recommend an Italian menu with our fresh Pasta Rea pasta.  It’s a great way to introduce fresh pasta to friends or colleagues.  You might consider a pasta “bar” with a choice of pastas and sauces. We can create a unique menu sure to please and impress any Italians in attendance. . . even Aunt Maria!

Mangia bene’!

Chef Tony Rea of Pasta Rea Presenting Fresh Pasta Cooking Demonstration at the Phoenix Uptown Farmers Market

Fresh Pasta Rea Photos from Phoenix Uptown Farmers Market

This recent blog post welcoming Pasta Rea also includes some cool live action photos of Chef Rea preparing fresh Pasta Rea pasta! Chef Rea recently providing a public cooking demonstration to promote our new line of fresh Pasta Rea pastas and sauces available for purchase in Phoenix at the Uptown Farmers Market every Saturday!

Check out the lovely welcome post Phoenix Uptown Farmers Market wrote up on their blog to welcome Chef Tony Rea and Pasta Rea!

Phoenix Fresh Pasta Brand Pasta Rea Debuts with Chef Tony Rea of Creations in Cuisine Catering

Creations in Cuisine Catering Launches Fresh Pasta and Italian Specialties Brand Pasta Rea to debut at Uptown Farmers Market on January 9, 2016