Do they open and serve pasta for lunch???
Hi @moonboy403,
Call ahead of time. Because itās mainly Leo Bulgarini running the shop, heāll sometimes not get around to opening it until later in the afternoon.
If someone does pick up (he seems to have hired some part-time help manning the cashier), make sure to ask if Leo is in, before you head over (and let them know you want Pasta).
Otherwise, itās still safe to stop in for Gelato if heās not in, but you want him around to talk about the nature of his creations and his passion with the Pasta and Gelato.
Itās been in the upper 40s late at night several days of the wk for several wksā¦ which is completely unheard of in LA. It even started SNOWING in certain parts.
Itās actually been really bizarre.
Yeah, I had poke yesterday which, while very tasty, wasnāt exactly comforting.
But, back to the topic, I think that Bulgariniās pasta would be delish in this weather.
Last nightās adventure was so successful that I finally decided to go all in and schedule a dinner with Leo.
For those interested in the current set of flavors, hereās what I remember:
Goatās milk with cocoa nibs - it was a delightful amount of goat-y with hints of chocolateā¦savory-sweet
Mascarpone
Tiramisu - really tasted like tiramisu!
Pear x3 (Bartlett, Bosc with bay leavesā¦so yummy!, canāt remember the last)
Blood orange granita
Chocolate sorbet - not a stitch of milk or cream and studded with cocoa nibsā¦I donāt even like chocolate and I enjoyed it
Chocolate-orange gelato
Chocolate salt gelato
Peach
Nectarine
Pistachio
Hazelnut
Stracciatella
Sweet cream - it has an Italian name but I canāt remember
We were the only folks in the shop, so we were able to chat with Leo for a bit. Heās got great storiesā¦he talked about the first time he met JGold and then the first time he met Wolfgang Puck. Youāll have to ask him about it. He had a new assistant in helping make pasta, and Leo himself was pulling out a fresh batch of biscotti out of the oven.
fior di latte?
WAT? When did he start making biscotti???
Thanks! Iām glad your Italian is on point, @PorkyBelly!
@paranoidgarliclover According to Leo, heās been making and selling biscotti for some time. He says itās real popular so he has trouble keeping it on hand regularly. It smelled super delicious, and it was too hot for us to see it be set out. Iāll try to see if itās available on Friday and snap a photo of it for you.
Ahā¦ Maybe thatās why I never seen it (and Iāve only been a few times total). I imagine his biscotti must be great, too.
We showed up one time without calling ahead. Leo was not there. They still let us order pasta, and while it was decent, a young man made it and I have no way of knowing how much better it would have been from Leo himself. Need to retry it one of these days.
I have been a few times but never had the pasta.
How to get the most out of your trip to Bulgarini:
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Try Leoās nut-based gelatos, specifically the pistachio and hazelnut flavors. Even if you donāt like nuts. (Heck, especially if you donāt like nuts.) Also, if available, get a taste of the gorgonzola gelato.
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Eat the housemade pasta there. It is sublime.
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If you ask nice, Leo will offer you a pairing of gelato and some sort of alcohol. He is a genius at pairing his gelatos. Let him wow you.
I feel successful in that Iāve already heeded 2 of your 3 tips. The last one is going to taken care of shortly.
May the fourth be with you.
Small snagā¦the husband got assigned to work tonight (and he canāt get out of it), and Iām not going to cancel last minute. Whatās the best way to keep and take home gelato/sorbetto home? Iāll take a cooler, but am torn between filling it with ice or dry ice.
Thanks!
bring the cooler and ask if Leo could give you ice? I donāt know if thatās being a little bit forward though
Iām not opposed to already filling it with ice myselfā¦was just wondering if dry ice would be more appropriate.
my bad, misunderstood. i guess dry ice would be better since you will be out for a few hours?
Perhaps a friend will fill in?
He was really sad to find out he was on the scheduleā¦he was very much looking forward to a fun evening of great food and gelato/sorbettoā¦Leo had even mentioned he was going to make a pear flavor just because we were coming in. Dry iceā¦it is!