State Pasta
State Pasta and I have something in common (and no, it’s not that we are made mainly of carbohydrates). We’re both new kids on the block, albeit I’m newer, both trying to find our feet with the locals.
State Pasta was a happy discovery I made when I tried to visit That Mexican Place (yeah, that’s actually its name) which was not open as Google said it would be. Quickly succumbing to hanger, I scanned the horizon of Devon Street East hoping something would jump out at me on this sunny Monday evening and there was State Pasta. This place stands out like a sexy sore thumb: detail has been paid to the branding of this pasta joint, from the distinctive blue and white hand motifs to the shipping container kitchen and bar and the seamless indoor-outdoor flow that on this balmy night reminded me of being in the Italian riviera.
The menu is simplistic but there are plenty of options to choose from. There are small antipasti plates all served with house made rosemary focaccia that one could make a light meal of, but you’d be a fool if you didn’t order their namesake dish, pasta. Many pasta dishes can leave one bogged down afterwards, the memory of the meal ruined by the lead pellet sitting in their gut. No such thing will happen here, where the dishes we had a lightness of touch.
We started with the panzanella salad; it is one of my of all time favourite things to eat and the version at State Pasta did not disappoint. This is summer on a plate: sun-ripe tomatoes, cucumber, radish and basil intermingling in a wine vinaigrette with bread croutons taking on all those delicious juices. The rosemary focaccia also does a good job of this but save some for lapping up the last of your pasta juices too. You should catch this while tomatoes are still a bumper crop.
We went down the veggie route this evening and ordered the stracci, a sort of ragged sheet-like pasta with Swiss brown and oyster mushrooms, and the orecchiette, an ear-shaped pasta with zuchinni, walnut, mint and salted ricotta. Both dishes were stunning and would really kick arse in Auckland but Taranaki locals are lucky enough to have State Pasta on their doorstep. All their pasta is fresh and hand-made here, and there was a nice delicateness to the dishes but without being too wispy as I’ve found in the pasta with some fresh pasta. I was particularly blown away by the orecchiette which was really fresh with pops of lemon and mint and the generous smattering of walnuts adding a meatiness to an otherwise meat-free dish. The mushroom stracci was rich in umami tones with an almost Marmitey quality to it and both Mitch and I were wiping up the last drips with the focaccia like our life depended on it.
Although we didn’t have dessert on this occasion I’ve frequented State Gelato, their little gelateria, on several other occasions and can report on its fantastic-ness. I was sad that Creamy Jo’s in West End Precinct had closed since my last visit to New Plymouth but the brand had morphed since then into Left Coast Gelato and can be found here at State Gelato now. My favourites thus far are the espresso, strawberry and gingernut flavours, all unbelievably smooth, but the flavours change regularly so there is more gelato to be had.
I am chomping at the bit (literally) to get back to State Pasta and try more of their outstanding dishes and friendly service and urge you to quit the kitchen tonight and go there as well. For those of you reading from outside the region, pop State Pasta on your Taranaki bucket list for when you visit, you will not be disappointed.
State Pasta
162 Devon Street East
New Plymouth
Ph. (06) 757 4006
@statepasta
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