Food Lover's Guide: Bread and Pasta

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Pasta in all shapes and forms from Valicenti Organico. Photo by Susan Laughlin.

More Local Food Guides

Our Food Lovers' Guide includes many more delicious topics:

Produce
Cheese and Milk
Local Markets
Local Meats
Venison
Herbs
Asian Specialty Markets
Fish

With the Grain: All the Pastabilities

Valicenti Organico is a mom-and-pop operation that produces fresh pasta, ravioli and sauces in a renovated farm kitchen in Hollis. Although in this case the mom and pop in question, David Valicenti and Michelle Splaine, have more than 40 years of experience in the food industry.

Valicenti was a chef at Arnaud's in the French Quarter of New Orleans and chef de cuisine at Michael Timothy's in Nashua before responding to an entrepreneurial instinct and opening Organico three years ago. Splaine, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, was the pastry chef at Michael Timothy's and Surf, also in Nashua.

The couple's oeuvre of pastas include hemp, saffron and gluten-free varieties. Their "Red Gravy" tomato basil sauce is made with their own organic tomatoes. They also make a wide range of exotic, seasonal ravioli including chestnut for the holidays, roasted pumpkin and brie and dairy-free caramelized butternut squash.

Their products are available at Lull farm in Hollis and other farmstands, Philbrick's Fresh Market in Portsmouth and other locations.

Valicenti Organico
Hollis
gimmiespaghetti.com

Fun Fact: On their website David Valicenti and Michelle Splaine of Valicenti Organico offer expert advice on cooking fresh pasta. Because it is not dried, cooking time is only one to three minutes in boiling water depending on whether you prefer it al dente (to the tooth) or soft. The shape of the pasta also matters. They suggest one minute for spaghetti or two to three minutes for rigatoni.

Bread Bakers

Orchard Hill Breadworks
Hand-made breads baked in a wood-fired oven. See the website for monthly specials including dark Russian rye.
125 Old Settlers Rd.
Alstead
(603) 835-7845
orchardhillbreadworks.com

German John’s Bakery
Hearty German sourdough breads, original soft pretzels, crusty rolls and other specialties
5 West Main St.
Hillsborough
(603) 464-5079
germanjohnsbakery.net

Me & Ollie’s
Award-winning bakery and café with outlets in Portsmouth, Exeter, Greenland and Newington. Consult the website for baking schedule.
meandollies.com

When Pigs Fly
Artisanal bread featuring a low-carb whole wheat that flies off the shelves.
801 Islington St.
Portsmouth
(603) 436-0054
sendbread.com

Brookford Farm
Organic farm raises spring wheat for bread making and winter wheat for pastries as well as meats, produce and raw milk.
70 Sligo Rd.
Rollinsford
(603) 742-4084
brookfordfarm.com

Great Harvest Bread Co.
Whole grain and honey sweetened breads from freshly ground whole wheat flour
5 Sunapee St.
Nashua
(603) 881-4422
greatharvestnashua.com

Ceres Bakery
Oatmeal, anadama and whole wheat breads. See website for daily menu.
51 Penhallow St. Portsmouth
(603) 436-6518
ceresbakery.com

The Good Loaf
Vollkornbrot rye bread and other hand-made crusty breads.
75 Mt. Vernon Rd.
Milford
(603) 672-1500
Visit them on Facebook.

Pasta

Terra Cotta Pasta
Fresh pastas ready to cook.
Locations in Maine and Dover.
Also sold in many specialty shops.
Lunch is served at eat location.
1 Washington Sq.
Dover
(603) 749-2288
terracottapastacompany.com

Angela's Pasta and Cheese Shop
Purveyor of cheeses, dried and fresh pastas.
815 Chestnut St.
Manchester
(603) 625-9544
angelaspastaandcheese.com