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BKW Farms

Know Your Farmer

Choosing a grain partner isn’t easy but PASTA REA is proud to introduce BKW Farms. Located between Phoenix & Tucson in a small town called Marana, BKW has a rich history in farming beginning in 1939. Their history of environmentally conscience farming practices and quality grain production sets them apart. They hold a USDA Organic Certification, and with that comes a huge commitment to use organic methods to produce their products while protecting the environment.

“By supporting local farmers today, you are helping to ensure that there will be farms and food security in your community tomorrow.”

We are thrilled to have a local provider of organic heritage grains and fresh blue oyster mushrooms. We look forward to seeing what they can offer next.  https://www.bkwazgrown.com/

Expanding our Offerings

PASTA REA has always offered a variety of specialty items to enhance our lineup of traditional fresh pasta, sauces, and entrees which has included pastas and sauce made with local ingredients. We think our organic – heritage grain pasta is delicious and knowing the commitment BKW has made to consistently provide locally produced and organic heritage grains we have decided to offer it to our customers so they may enjoy it as well.

There are many advantages to purchasing food produced locally, including:

Local food supports local families

Local farmers aren’t anonymous and they take their responsibility to the consumer seriously

Local food is an investment in the future

grains

Pasta made with heritage grains is not gluten free but will offer lower gluten content and a large variety of vitamins and minerals. As far as flavor, it is delicious with a slight nutty flavor and great texture able to stand with any hearty sauce or pesto.

Look for a variety of shapes and sizes, vegan and organic egg pastas in the coming weeks produced in small batches on a limited basis until demand increases.

Tradition, Freshness & Uncompromising Flavor

PASTA REA was created to introduce to the public our family recipes and cooking methods passed down from generation to generation. We never intended to change the Italian culinary landscape we just wanted to offer consistently great family style comfort food.

Varieties of Fresh Pasta Rea Pasta

PASTA REA pasta is made using imported machines and brass dies which gives the pasta a rough texture enabling it to hold on to your favorite sauce. Our handmade pastas are rolled cut shaped and cared for in the old traditions, just like my mother taught me. We simmer our sauce, roll our meatballs and layer our lasagna every Thursday for our Saturday markets. Same with our pasta, we do not make it until it is ordered, and we can’t keep enough of our 5-cheese ravioli in stock.

If you have not tried PASTA REA yet you don’t know what you are missing, there is nothing better than to walk into your kitchen and smell that sauce as it simmers on a Sunday afternoon. Connect with us on social media to see what we are making each week and take advantage of our special offers. We would love to hear from you so send a picture of your pasta plate and let us know what you think. Mangia Bene!

                                              

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