Fell'in love with Italian food all over again...

Traffic. "traffic na naman sa may main road", I thought. We were on our way to Makati. Ah-pa been mentioning this certain Italian, pasta restaurant in Makati, that serves good and fresh pasta. I wasn't really interested in pasta nor Italian food. I'm not fond of Tomatoes. Authentic means sour tomato sauce.. Although "freshly made pasta" caught my attention. As we took the U-turn to a Petron Gasoline station, somehow everyone's face brightens.

You wouldn't notice agad that there's an authentic Italian restaurant inside a Petron Gasoline Station. As we enter the place, it was small siksikan restaurant... more or less 30 seater. Gladly, Achi A already made a reservation beforehand, we were seated in the corner near to the kitchen glass window.

"Va Benne Pasta Deli" (Good Pasta Delicacies). The second restaurant I've seen with bookshelves as part of the interior...Since it was holiday, the place was crowded.. the waiters were coming in-out of the dining and the kitchen staffs were busy in their own stations... and one of the kitchen staff busy with the pasta machine.

Displays were also Italian products used in cooking Pasta or Italian dishes. They were also selling their own pasta sauces in jar; Pomodoro, Mushroom and cream sauce, and ...... (forgot!! red sauce din un e..) and of course the sell fresh pasta!!

And now the FOOD!!! For our first dish... we had POLIPO salad or Polpo which means octopus. Thinly sliced braised octopus served with semi-dried tomato, olives, arugula salad and in lemon dressing. Tender octopus.... hmmmm... in sweet-sour lemon dressing.

next was the superb uber delicious PAN ROASTED FOIE GRAS (fwa-gra; fat liver of a duck) served with Portobello raviolo and onion marmalade. The delightment on our faces!!!! The sweet, savory taste of onion that compliments the mouth-melting foie gras!!!! YuuumMMmmm!!!! (haaay, heaven!!!)

..special of the week: the MUSHROOMS TRUFFLE RISOTTO WITH BEEF TARTAR AND SOFT EGG. the savory beef risotto topped with beef tartar (thinly sliced raw beef)

We also tried the POTATO GNOCCHI with pumpkin bacon sauce, prawns and served with melted mozzarella cheese. Thick soft potato dumpling-like in sweet cheezzy-pumpkin sauce!!!

The ROLLED SPINACH CANELLONI with smoked ham and light tomato cream sauce. A lasagna-like pasta with spinach and oyster mushroom in creamy tomato sauce.

And for dessert!! Hubby and I had STRAWBERRIES A LA MILENA marinated strawberries in balsamico with vanilla ice cream served in a champagne glass. Awkward at first, but the balsamic vinegar compliment the sweet-tangy strawberries plus the sweet-cold vanilla ice cream.

My point of view, this restaurant is ideal to enjoy. Meaning, you are willing to wait. The food preparation weren't easy as it looks but every dishes that came out from the kitchen was worth all the wait. We're all patiently waiting for each dishes. We're all excited for the next surprise that Chef Massimo prepared for us. Value for money? It isn't cheap neither expensive. The pricing is just for the ingredients used.

We left Va Benne Pasta Deli with smile on our faces; satisfied and delighted. Ciao!