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Fresh Pasta – Shopping Local in Phoenix

Shopping Local from Home

We have written about this subject before but can there ever be enough words written about the benefits of purchasing local and shopping at your neighborhood farmers markets, restaurants and family owned delis and grocery stores? With your support the demand has increased dramatically along with the number of producers. Today’s health concerns make us think twice about getting out of the house. It may not be our first choice but there are now several ways you can order and receive your favorites from the comfort of your home.

For over 5 years Pasta Rea has been producing family style meal packages and offering freshly made pastas and sauces all locally produced and distributed. For 24 years our local catering and parent company, Creations in Cuisine Catering has offered meal delivery and catering throughout the valley and surrounding towns. We are proud to be part of the support local movement and with the level of quality of our products and our unsurpassed customer service we are recognized as one of the premier providers of meal delivery and catering services in Phoenix, Tucson, and northern Arizona. With that we wanted to share information on a growing trend, shopping local from home.

The Good Ol’ Days

Prior to COVID 19 your local Farmers Markets were not only a place to get great products, but it was also a social gathering of likeminded community members enjoying early morning social contact and conversations with friends, family, and vendors. If you were an early bird, you could be guaranteed the pick of the crop from your favorite produce stand and avoid disappointment if one if your favorite venders were to sellout. Even with a late morning arrival you could still find a hot, fresh brewed coffee or one of those delicious breakfast burritos or fresh pastries that are offered at almost every market we visit. It is also a great opportunity to spend time with your beloved pet. Most markets are pet friendly and are a great place for your pet to stretch its legs, (of course if the pavement isn’t too hot) and if they behaved maybe they could get a special treat from the pet friendly vendors. It is certainly a challenge now to be able to enjoy the things we have become accustomed to, but you can still shop local and continue your support.

Fresh & Local Products “Beet” the Competion

Before we tell you how and where you can get your Arizona favorites delivered market to door, lets talk about the benefits of fresh local produce beets the competition shopping local. Items made locally obviously have less mileage to travel to get to your location. This helps to preserve the taste, quality, and freshness. You will mostly likely find fresher green beans, strawberries, and tomatoes then the ones sitting on a grocery store shelf and you will notice a huge difference in the taste. Hey, we all must purchase food, clothes, soaps, and at times splurge on a nice gift for yourself or a loved one so why not spend that money locally? Keeping the money “in the family” helps support the community and or local framers who may have a greater need then a large corporation. You may agree with me as I say that variety is the spice of life. You can easily find a new and creative spice blend at the market, but you also must be open to trying new food items with ethnic backgrounds you may have never heard of or tired before.

Feeding the family is easer too as the food vendors have recognized the need for meal delivery and catering and have created many different meal packages to feed 2, 4 or 6. Finding a handcrafted, one of a kind cutting board, piece of jewelry or art is not uncommon and could be the added bling you have been searching for. You are now probably real anxious to get to market but still concerned with the current health situation or may not have the time or resources to get there each week. Here are a few suggestions on how you can shop local from home.

#Supportlocal #Shoplocal

Uptown Farmers Market / Gather Arizona ~ Offering curbside pick up and home delivery. Their vendor list keeps on growing so check back often to see who is new or to stay up on what your favorite vendor has on special. It is also important to know they have home delivery in refrigerated vehicles year-round so there will not be a concern about freshness or temperature control, perfect for meal delivery and catering orders. Markets hours vary by season, you can find current hours and other important information by visiting: https://uptownmarketaz.com/ Place a curbside pick up or delivery order easily online by visiting: https://gatherazexpress.com/

Humanity Hub ~ We are excited to see this come to not only the Phoenix area but Tucson as well. There are many high quality locally produced products and markets in Tucson and now conveniently we can experience both. Humanity Hub is scheduled to roll out in a few months but why wait, get on their list today, all the information you need can be found at: https://humanityhubnetwork.org/

Your Farm Foods ~ One of the first to offer online ordering and home delivery. Your Farm Foods works with a large variety of suppliers and sponsors educational events with information on healthy and nutritious food sources. This is a Chandler based business committed to providing locally grown food, farm to table, market to door with a focus on local products. Visit https://yourfarmfoods.com/to learn more!

With so many options, there is no reason not to take advantage of farm fresh locally produced goods in Phoenix.

Ways to support your community

August 4, 2020/0 Comments/by Tony

Cooking Fresh Pasta in Phoenix, News & Media, Phoenix Uptown Farmers Market

Fresh Pasta – Meal Delivery & Catering, a lasting Trend

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/

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

August 4, 2020/0 Comments/by Tony

Cooking Fresh Pasta in Phoenix, News & Media, Phoenix Uptown Farmers Market

Fresh Pasta – Save Your Heart and Eat Local Pasta

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…

The 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 Phoenix Not 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-de ath-1517549

By: Sasha Holt