Why: If you’re looking for distinctive gourmet provisions for yourself or the foodie on your list, Pasta Gigi’s is more than just the exclusive retail outlet for Pappardelles Pasta.
Olive oils, vinegars, wines, tapenades and much more stock the shelves. Made-to-order sandwiches from the delicatessen are made with premium Boar’s Head meat and cheeses, and can be prepared cold or panini-style.
Owners Greg and Peggy Hoole opened the delicatessen and specialty food store in Battle Ground Village in mid-November.
Atmosphere: Classy simplicity defines the space and creates an unpretentious experience. There are often many samples to try before you decide what to buy. A few cafe tables and chairs near the entrance, set apart from the retail space, offer a place to dine. Pictures from the Avalon Gallery, also based at Battle Ground Village, are displayed on the walls and help beautify the space.
What I tried: Both my dining companion and I decided on hot sandwiches.
I had a turkey and provolone on Dave’s Killer Bread with tomato, lettuce and sweet mustard. My dining companion chose a roast beef and havarti on white bread with tomato, onion, spinach and sweet mustard.
The sandwiches were expertly grilled before the tomato and greens were added.
I was satisfied by the amount of meat and cheese on the sandwiches, but for people who regularly supersize a meal this might not adequately fill the void.
With so many gourmet products on display, we were surprised, though not unhappy, to get a bag of Doritos with our sandwiches.
Instead of fountain drinks, refrigerated natural sodas are available. We both had a Hot Lips Soda — a local favorite of mine that can be hard to find.
For a sweet finish to lunch, we chose a Raleigh Bar — pecan, nougat and bacon caramel surrounded by dark chocolate — and a 1.4-ounce box of Chocolate-Covered Wild Tuscan Pinenuts, both products of Xocolatl De David of Portland.
We preferred the chocolate-covered pinenuts over the Raleigh Bar. The cocoa-dusted pinenuts lost their distinct flavor in the dark chocolate coating, but they enhanced the overall richness and added texture to the treat.
The bacon in the Raleigh Bar tasted more like bacon fat than salty, meaty bacon. Both my dining companion and I decided we would have enjoyed the treat more without the bacon because all the other components were appetizing.
Menu highlights beyond what I tried: One of 14 soup varieties, from either Harry’s or Boar’s Head, is available each day.
Other observations: The Hooles are friendly and easy-going with their customers. They don’t hover over shoppers, but they’re on hand to impart their love of food, which is obvious in their product knowledge.
Local Cascade Glacier Ice Cream, Dee Creek Farms cheeses and Noris Dairy products are also available.
The most intriguing store items were the many delicious-sounding varieties of frozen ravioli and sauces, as well as a make-your-own Mozzarella and Ricotta Cheese Kit.
Cost: Whole sandwiches are $6.95. Soup is $2.25 for a cup and $4 for a bowl. A combo of a half-sandwich and a cup of soup is $6.95. Pappardelle pasta is packaged in half-pound containers for $5 each.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Telephone: 360-624-1268.
Where: 1417 S.E. Rasmussen Blvd., Suite 121, Battle Ground.
On the Web: http://pastagigis.com.
Health score: Pasta Gigi’s was inspected on Dec. 21. It received a score of zero. Zero is a perfect score, and Clark County Public Health closes restaurants that score 100 or higher. For information, call 360-397-8428.
