As NYC’s lengthy winter weather stride marches along, so does the call for warm, nourishing meals. Universally lauded as one of the most comforting foods, pasta has a way of righting all wrongs, a magic cure for even the most severe cases of seasonal melancholy. With an ever-changing indoor and outdoor dining landscape, chefs and pasta makers in the New York City area have been forced to think outside of the (pasta) box, coming up with creative ways to feed and stay connected to their guests, friends, and community. Enter, the pasta kit.
Gone are the days of reaching into the cabinet in search of a box of generic spaghetti and jarred marinara. The fear of overcooked pasta left boiling during back-to-back Zoom calls, extinguished, thanks to some of the top chefs and pasta makers in the NYC area. They have done the work to ensure that we can recreate their signature pasta dishes and new creations from the comfort of our homes, just as they are intended to be enjoyed at their restaurants or shops. From fresh noodles to rustic sauces, here are some great pasta kit options for a cozy meal in!
Brooklyn Pasta Lab pasta kit
Brooklyn Pasta Lab
Orders can be placed directly through the website. Delivery only to NYC, Brooklyn, Long Island, and Montauk
NYC’s Eleven Madison Park, The Nomad, Betony, and Bruno e Bologna’s Franco La Salumeria alum, chef Michael Pini is no stranger to pasta. A proud Italian-American, he launched Brooklyn Pasta Lab with the mission to make authentic and high-quality pasta that can be enjoyed from the comfort of New Yorker’s homes. His pasta kits generously feed two people and include fresh handmade pasta that’s carefully crafted by way of traditional techniques and tools, along with a classic sauce pairing. The weekly three-course menu drops every Monday at 10 a.m., when customers can feast their eyes on items like olive oil and sea salt focaccia with fresh ricotta, bronze die-extruded spaghetti with tomato and fresh basil sauce, meatballs, and Parmigiano Reggiano, and chocolate cake with whipped mascarpone. An enclosed recipe card guides customers to achieve pasta perfection.
Corto's Rainbow Cappelletti
Corto
Orders can be placed directly through the website. Pickup only.
Jersey City and Hoboken residents no longer have to hop across the Hudson for their fresh pasta fix. Coined as “cucina povera,” Corto is open for limited indoor and heated outdoor seating, and has launched Corto Market, their online store, in order to reach those who would prefer to enjoy their pasta dishes at home. Featuring restaurant pantry provisions, handmade stuffed pastas, and brass die-extruded pasta kits that include sauce and cheese made from high quality Italian and local ingredients, customers can choose from staple kits like a Rigatoni Pasta Kit, starring Bianco di Napoli tomatoes, Calabrian chili, Salumeria Biellese pancetta, mint, basil, 24-month pecorino romano, and Sapori Divini olive oil, and specials like Salumeria Biellese mortadella and Caputo Brothers ricotta-filled Rainbow Cappelletti.
Larina Market offerings
Larina
Orders can be placed directly through the website. Pickup or delivery available.
Chef Silvia Barban has been feeding the Fort Greene community for nearly five years at Larina Pastificio e Vino, and has further extended her at-home offerings via Larina Market, an online store. Customers can order from the restaurant's dinner menu as well as build their own meals through a wide selection of provisions, homemade sauces, and fresh pastas available by the pound. Keep an eye out for seasonal and collaborative pasta kits, like her decadent Calvisius Caviar Pasta Kit and Red Beet Maccheroni with Poppyseed Butter and Orange.
La Trafila Porcini Mushroom stuffed Parsley Gnocchi with Sage Butter
La Trafila
Orders can be placed directly through the website. Delivery only.
Brooklyn fresh pasta newcomer La Trafila is offering a unique selection of kits that serve two, four, or six people. Each kit includes a signature sauce and grated cheese. Made from Italian flour, local eggs, and Vermont butter that’s flavored in-house, customers can choose from five classic pasta and sauce varieties like Tagliolini al Tartufo, Rigatoni alla Vodka, and Porcini Mushroom-stuffed Parsley Gnocchi with Sage Butter, as well as their six rotating seasonal specials. Bonus: Save room for one of their seven different flavors of Tiramisu, which can be added to any kit for a sweet ending.
Leonelli's Cacio e Pepe pasta kit
Leonelli
Orders can be placed via Uber Eats, Uber Grocery (Cornershop), Grub Hub and Chow Now. Pickup and local delivery available.
Chef Jonathan Benno’s NoMad restaurant is still limited to take-out and delivery only, but his well-loved Italian cuisine can be enjoyed at home either prepared from Leonelli or with pasta kits. The kits feature freshly made pasta and signature sauces like Cacio e Pepe and Ragu Bolognese that serve two people. Bonus: Make it a family affair by ordering their Kids in the Kitchen Kit that includes spaghetti and meatballs, a cannoli kit, bake at home cornetti, a hot chocolate kit, and a cookie decorating kit.
Pasta Louise pasta kit
Pasta Louise
Orders can be placed directly through the website. Pickup and delivery available.
Chef and owner Allison Arevalo’s Park Slope, Brooklyn eatery is packaging more than pasta in their kits. Included are one pound of fresh pasta (made in-house every day), a homemade sauce, homemade focaccia bread, and a bottle of wine. Offering eight different kits and carefully paired wines, customers can choose from a variety of seasonal and staple dishes, like The Fancy Kit, starring Mafaldine with a Wild Mushroom Cream Sauce, or customize kits based on personal tastes.
Scarpetta pasta kit
Scarpetta
Orders can be placed directly through the website and Caviar. Pickup and delivery available with 24 hours notice. National shipping available through Goldbelly.
Scarpetta is eager to feed the local NYC community and pastavores nationwide with their pasta kits, which include a full meal and recipe card that clearly explains how to prepare and enjoy them from start to finish. Each NYC kit for two, four, or six people contains ingredients for a market salad, a choice of pasta (like their famous spaghetti tomato basil or short rib and bone marrow agnolotti), a ready-to-bake focaccia, and Espresso Budino. Bonus: A selection of a la carte menu additions is available for more substantial appetites.