Wednesday, April 22nd was just the third week of trading for the new pasta van at the Bury St Edmunds Wednesday market, but you’d never guess that from the quality and confidence on display. The trader’s name? Well, it just came up as “Pasta” on my Google Pay receipt, but you’ll find them at @pastalove.uk on Instagram.
It’s a beautiful blue van – one whose colour matched the sky this seriously sunny Wednesday lunchtime. A huge menu board makes it clearly obvious what’s on offer, while on the countertop, a small lemon tree and a fresh basil plant, nestled in old tomato tins, give visual clues as to the van’s cuisine of choice (as well as the delicious scent of basil wafting through the air while you wait).
The welcome matched the setting – the team of two behind the counter were warm, engaging and seemed genuinely excited to be there.
The menu here is a build-your-own affair: choose from six sauces, pick your pasta (rigatoni, linguine or gluten-free), then finish it off with extras like Parmigiano-Reggiano, cracked black pepper, chilli oil or chilli flakes. There are a few sides and drinks on offer, too.
I let my decision be guided by others…on asking what had been most popular so far, I was told the Napoletana (tomato sauce with garlic and basil) and the Bolognese. I went for the latter (£10.25), pairing it with rigatoni and Parmigiano.
It felt like the right decision to order a side of mozzarella fritta (£3.90) stuffed with prosciutto…and it absolutely was.
While I was waiting, I was encouraged to try one of the samples of arancini that was on the counter, and despite the fact that it had cooled odwn, it was delicious. Crisp on the outside, soft and creamy within, it was paired with a rich, slightly sweet tomato sauce – I’d definitely consider ordering these next time.
I was asked if I was eating at the market or taking away, and on confirming the latter, my food was covered with lids and I was handed a paper napkin and, somewhat surprisingly, a plastic fork – I thought everywhere used wooden cutlery now!
And so, off I trekked to the Abbey Gardens to find a spot to enjoy my lunch in the sunshine.
I tucked into the mozzarella fritta first: five puffed, golden parcels with a generous filling of molten cheese and prosciutto. The coating was crisp and flavourful, the cheese perfectly gooey – even after my walk through town – and that tomato sauce cut through the richness beautifully. If you want to see the cheese pulls, take a look at my Instagram…
Onto the Bolognese: a generous portion for the price, with the rigatoni still retaining that al dente bite. There was plenty of sauce, too – not just enough to coat, but also to gather in a hidden treasure trove at the bottom of the bowl. Rich, meaty and comforting, I loved its herby flavour, too.
If you happen to find yourself in Bury St Edmunds on a Wednesday, make a point of looking for the bright blue pasta van. It’s early days for the team, but if this is the standard going forward, I know the place will be a massive hit.
Give them a follow on Instagram!