#Presto pasta series#

Depending on the ripeness of the tomatoes you may need to add a little tomato paste and water to help create the sauce.Ĭontinue cooking over a low heat until the tomatoes break down. When the onions have softened and started to colour, add the chopped tomatoes. Heat a little oil and a knob of butter in a pan and when the butter has melted add the onion, garlic and chilli - allow this to cook slowly to gently sauté the onions. Remove the intestine and then cut the prawns in half widthways - then partially cut each half along the line of the intestinal tract. I should note that I used local prawns which for those in the US are called large shrimp. The result is a dish that is surprisingly light and well suited to all climes.Ĭortecce with Prawns, Capsicum and Chilliġ large red chilli, finely sliced, seeds removed (add more or less to taste)Ģ plum/roma tomatoes, cut in half, de-seeded and roughly choppedġ roasted red capsicum/bell pepper, diced into small cubed This time it's prepared in a tomato based sauce with prawns and cubes of roasted red capsicums (bell peppers) and spiked with fine slivers of fresh chilli. What attracted me to the dish is that it used Cortecce, which is a pasta I used in PPN #15. For more information, visit this week's Presto Pasta Night I've decided to prepare a pasta dish I had recently at a restaurant. There are currently two Presto Pasta locations in Santa Barbara as well as additional locations in Ventura, Camarillo and Newbury Park. Shortly after opening Baltieri’s, he took over the famous Copper Coffee Pot on State Street and turned it into Aldo’s Italian Restaurant where it continues to operate today. Baltieri began his restaurant career with the opening of Baltieri’s Italian Restaurant on Hollister Avenue in Goleta in the early 1980s. That same service remains a trademark of the Presto Pasta restaurants and has since been freely copied by fast food Italian restaurants around the country.įounded in 1992 by Albert Baltieri, Presto Pasta serves value-priced, quick serve Italian soups, salads and pastas created from top quality ingredients. When the food was ready, a server delivered the food to the table. Diners ordered at the counter and were given a number that they took to their table.

Montecito Street in 1992, a location in operation today.Īt the time, a fast food Italian restaurant was a new and unique idea. He opened the first Presto Pasta at 827 E. At the Chase, he saw how quickly his uncle could serve home-cooked Italian food and realized that he could create a ‘fast food’ Italian restaurant.

Additionally, the new location will begin offer a selection of pizzas in the coming weeks and will offer a variety of beer and wine options once it has received its beer and wine license.īaltieri conceived of the idea for Presto Pasta while working as a waiter at The Chase Bar and Grill owned by his aunt and uncle. All sauces and pastas are cooked fresh daily. Presto Pasta sources and uses only top quality ingredients including Romano and Pecorino cheeses, pasta, fresh basil and other herbs in all their dishes.

#Presto pasta series#

The restaurant features a beautiful reclaimed walnut communal table from Oregon, a seating banquette with a series of two-person tables, standard booth and table seating and two ‘wise-guy’ booths complete with curtains where diners can dine in private for that important wise guy meeting.ĭiners can expect the same selection of value-priced Italian soups, salads and pastas served at other Presto Pasta locations, including local favorites Chicken Picatta with Fettuccine Alfredo and homemade Lasagna. The ‘quick serve’ Italian restaurant owned and operated by Albert Baltieri is also celebrating 20 years of continuous operation in Santa Barbara this month.ĭesigned by Mark Kirkart of Design Arc, the new Presto Pasta boasts an updated contemporary look that provides diners with a peaceful, relaxed ambience. in the Ralph’s shopping center next to Jensen’s Music. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., – Presto Pasta today announced the opening of a new location at 2830 De La Vina St. Local Favorite, Presto Pasta, Celebrates 20-Year Anniversary with Opening of New Location on De La Vina Street This just in from the new Presto Pasta at 2830 De La Vina St: