|
This page was exported from Larry's Albuquerque Food Musings
[ http://www.abqtopten.com/blog ] Export date: Thu Mar 30 2:51:37 2023 / +0000 GMT |
Joe's Pasta HouseLike an Old Italian Friend....First visit: July 29, 2010 Twenty-fifth visit: January 7, 2017  If you have been here, chances are good that Pasta House proprietor Joe Guzzardi will remember you as soon as you walk in the door. On my second visit, he all  owed that it being a crowded Friday evening and we were without reservations, there would be a long wait for a table. Then he remembered me, saying "I remem ber you. [Must be my unforgettable voice.] You been here two months back. Follow me, I got a table for you." And so it goes at Joe's Pasta House. Joe's Pasta House reminds me of the countless small neighborhood Italian restaurants that dotted the Bronx and Brooklyn areas where I started out life. There's a reason: Rio Rancho is like NYC neighborhoods transplanted to New Mexico. Listen to the accent spoken here. There's no mistaking that the food is as it genuine as it was back there.  The Rio Rancho area was originally part of the Alameda Grant, which was founded by the Spanish in 1710. By the early twentieth century, much of the land grant had been sold to land investment companies. Amrep Corporation purchased 55,000 acres in 1961 and turned the land into a housing development called "Rio Rancho Estates" with the first families moving in the early 1960s, most of whom were New Yorkers. The population grew tenfold between 1970 and 1980, and the City of Rio Rancho was incorporated in 1981. The opening of a large Intel Corporation plant in 1981 had a major economic impact on the city. Kassie Guzzardi serving at the 2013 Taste of Rio Rancho Since the 1990s, Rio Rancho has taken steps to become more independent from neighboring Albuquerque, including the establishment of separate school and library systems and attempts to attract businesses to the area. The city's latest project is the Downtown City Centre development that includes a new city hall building, a new UNM West and CNM campus as well as the Santa Ana Star Center. The arena opened in October 2006. City Hall opened in September 2007. We enjoyed our first visit so much that we returned with our gastronome friends of some 40 years, Sally and Andy from Taos. Good choice, they said.  Southwestern Shrimp Fettucine The menu lists many standard Italian dishes as well as house specialties, mostly pastas. None of us got beyond the pastas. We have had, at various times:
The service was exemplary. Everyone knew our name. Joe kept stopping by making sure that everything was OK (it was better than OK, Joe).  Mediterranean Calamari Mediterranean Calamari So you order calamari in an Italian restaurant and it usually comes out deep fried with a boring red sauce on the side, right? Try Joe's Mediterranean Calamari when it's on special. If it isn't, beg for it. Maybe Joe and Kassie will make it part of the regular menu. Fried Calamari topped with Warm Feta Cheese, Capers, Artichoke Hearts, Red Onions and Calamata Olives in a Lemon Butter Sauce. Outrageously good. I love red sauce stuff, but some of the whites are crazy good. You really need to try the Sea Bass and the Lobster Ravioli. Both are beautifully rich and tasty.  Sea Bass  Lobster Ravioli And speaking about rich and outrageously tasty, treat yourself to the Cannoli. .  Cannoli Alas, Bob Morris, the Italian opera baritone is no longer here. Joe told me that Bob had relocated to Florida (their gain; our loss). There is now a gifted guitarist playing cool, soft jazz. Fine sound.  Bob Chase pouring some Zin for his sweet sister, Barbara Don't overlook the specials... The Specials can be found by looking for them on Joe's Website. Joe and Kassie know that I love Maryland Crabcakes (here is my prize winning recipe straight from Bawmer where I grew up) and let me know that they would be available last weekend. I gathered seven close friends and showed up after asking Kassie to make sure that they wouldn't run out. And they didn't.  Maryland Crabcakes House Made Maryland Crab Cakes Fresh Maryland Style Blue Claw Crab Cakes, Served with House Made Dipping Sauce These are excellent crabcakes. Cooked to perfection, they remain lightly browned on the outside and just warm on the inside. Beautiful. They are accompanied by clarified butter and a remoulade dipping sauce which had chipotle added for a slight kick. I tasted the sauce, which is very good, but my Maryland heritage would not allow me to put it on the crabcake. Don't let me stop you, however.  Rigatoni Pasta and Pork Ribs Old World Style Tender Pork Ribs Slow Cooked in Our Homemade Tomato Sauce with Fresh Basil Olive Oil and Romano Cheese Served over Imported Rigatoni Pasta The ribs are slow cooked, and the tender pork slides easily off the bone. The meat is very tender and tasty. Joe takes two days to prepare this fabulous dish. The sauce is thick, rich, and complex. Get here early for the specials. They sell out quickly (I got the last serving, which Joe saved for me). This dish has already earned a place on my coveted Best dishes of 2014 List.  Tiramisu and Espresso Tiramisu Strictly speaking, Tiramisu is not on the specials list. It is always available. It is special to me. The taste explodes onto my perspicacious palate. This Tiramisu won (by far — I was one of seven judges) the desserts category at the Fourth Annual Taste of Rio Rancho in February 2014. That makes it special to me. See you again, Joe. Soon as my waistline will allow. Ciao. Joe Guzzardi of Joe's Pasta House talks to The Visionaries Joe's Pasta House Larry and Kassie (505) 892-3333  3201 Southern Blvd SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124
|
|
Post date: 2014-03-03 02:15:42 Post date GMT: 2014-03-03 09:15:42 Post modified date: 2017-02-15 16:18:42 Post modified date GMT: 2017-02-15 23:18:42 |
| Powered by [ Universal Post Manager ] plugin. HTML saving format developed by gVectors Team www.gVectors.com |
