Handmade pasta at Aunt Jake’s

After a long day of running errands, running to catch a train (twice) and spending the afternoon at the beach, I was exhausted. I wanted a place not too far from my friends house, but also a good place. We have eaten at Favela Cubana before and wanted to head over there, but between the rain and the fact that we lost our umbrellas, we decided to go somewhere closer to us. My friend mentioned Aunt Jake’s, and without thinking it twice, we headed there. The idea of the place is quite simple: you choose from the pasta options and you pair it with the sauce of your choice.

The place was beyond packed, and we were told that we could wait an hour for a table or sit at the counter. We headed towards the counter and were lucky enough to sit in front of the chef who makes the pastas. All the pasta at Aunt Jake’s, and I mean all of it,  is handmade at the location. The chef would make pasta depending on the demand on it, and is constantly shaping, cutting and filling a new batch. I wanted the Cavatelli that has ricotta mixed in the dough, but sadly the kitchen ran out of it, and the chef was just making it. I had the pleasure to see him shape this pasta into the little cavatelli but not in time for me to eat it. I saw him make the herb garganelli and the pappardelle as well.

If there is one thing I learned that day is that making pasta is an art. The patience you have to have to cut and shape each pasta is incredible. The more you practice, the prettier and tastier the pastas are. He was also very nice to us, giving us some raw pasta to try while we waited for our food.

Since the Cavatelli was not an option at that moment, I went for the four cheese herb ravioli with Alla Vodka sauce. Whenever I am eating raviolis, I like to mix the cream and tomato sauce to create a blush sauce. Thankfully, Aunt Jake’s offered it as an option. The sauce was so flavorful and delicious, and balanced out the cheese filling of my pasta. The pasta was extremely good, filled with cheeses and spices. I tried the roasted garlic pecorino sauce my friend ordered with her raviolis, and I am sad to admit that her choice was better than mine. So if you go to Aunt Jake’s – and I hope you do after reading this post- order this sauce!

We also shared a burrata that was to die for, it was gooey in the inside and firm in the outside, and it came with pesto and a sliced bread in the shape of a heart. This burrata was by far one of the best ones I have had in the city.

Jewtina Tips: Ask about Aunt Jake’s pasta classes! You can hold an event and learn how to make pasta yourself!

Teenu- Disfruta- Enjoy!