Whether you’re social media savvy or an avid foodie, you’ll appreciate this pasta made in a wheel of cheese.
Cacio e Pepe, an old favourite in Rome, has recently gone global, dominating the feeds of social media users around the world. Its direct translation is ‘cheese and pepper’, and this three-ingredient Italian dish is simple, cheap, quick to put together and reigns supreme of any mac and cheese substitute you think will do the trick. Time Out declared it New York’s “trendiest dish of 2016” and the trend has finally hit out shores and immersed itself into the collective psyche of our Australian chefs and foodies.
Here out list of list of homegrown talent serving up this worldwide favourite.
1. Buffalo Dining Club – Darlinghurst, Sydney
Buffalo Dining Club is one of Sydney’s most authentic Italian treasures, and naturally their menu constantly revolves around Buffalo Mozzarella imported regularly from Campania, Italy. Their traditional Cacio e Pepe ($20) was one of the first to enter the Sydney scene, which made it viral among Sydney foodies, and simply pasta, salt and pepper, olive oil and parsley mixed together in a Pecorino cheese wheel.
2. Chester White Cured Diner – Potts Point, Sydney
We have Buffalo Dining Club to thank for bringing more Parmesan into our lives by opening another diner to satisfy our Cacio e Pepe needs. This time, with the addition of truffle. The Truffle Cacio e Pepe at Chester White Cured Diner is spaghetti, salt and pepper, parsley and black truffles, served out of a Sardinian truffled Pecorino cheese wheel.
3. Salt Meats Cheese – Broadway & Mosman, Sydney & Sufers Paradise, Queensland.
Wednesday is Flaming Cheese Wheel Pasta night at Salt Meats Cheese. Every Wednesday at their Broadway and Mosman locations, Salt Meats Cheese host a Cacio e Pepe party for $25 per head. Fresh Strozzapreti pasta is twirled in a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese wheel and melted with warm brandy that is set alight.
4. Maker and Monger – Prahan Market, South Yarra, Melbourne
This Raclette and Grilled Cheese bar runs on the finest quality cheeses, a dedication to tradition, and the passion of ‘cheesemonger’ Anthony Femia. Run out of an antique French food cart, they hold a fixed stall at the Prahan Markets in South Yarra every Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday. Their menus change seasonally, so while their Cacio e Pepe does not stay around all year, they still make our list for their dedication to tradition and love for cheese. Even if you don’t catch the Cacio e Pepe, their grilled cheese toasties and swiss raclette are reason enough to visit.
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5. Molto Italian – Kingston, Canberra
Perfect day for our Cacio e Pepe! Why not stop by for lunch? 🍝🧀🍕#moltoitalian #cacioepepe #pasta #pizza #italianfood #italiansdoitbetter #canberraeats #love #foodie
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Just over a year old, Molto Italian has created the perfect mix of modern and tradition to the restaurant scene in Canberra. Carlo Tosolini’s Italian heritage gives him an authentic understanding of the simplicity in traditional Italian food and flavours. Though, the waterside restaurant has a modern aesthetic which adds a refreshing flare to homely Italian cuisine. The simple yet satisfying menu is based around their strict philosophy, Passione e Tutto, which translates to ‘Passion in Everything’. Their Cacio e Pepe ($28) is 100 per cent authentic, not straying from its original recipe from Rome.