Many visitors to Il Pastificio often comment about the attentiveness and enthusiasm of the Chef Patron, Walter.  Interacting with his customers is very important to Walter, because, as a perfectionist, he is always keen to see how he can make the customer experience even more enjoyable. In this short text, you will be able to read a little more about Walter, his journey and what makes Il Pastificio uniquely different. 

 

Walter’s passion for cooking started when he was a young boy in Caserta, north of Naples in Southern Italy.  Inspired by his mother who was also a chef, Walter started working in the family’s Trattoria from age 11.

 

Wanting to continue the family tradition of excellent genuine Italian food, Walter entered college in Italy and successfully gained his professional catering qualifications.  Keen to experience and learn from as many different cuisines as possible Walter travelled around Europe, finally heading towards the UK and eventually settling in Wales, keen to develop his language skills.

Working his way up through the ranks of different restaurant kitchens in South Wales, Walter was always aiming to fulfil his lifelong goal of opening his own Italian restaurant that had the heart of soul of those that he mother ran.  In Il Pastificio, he feels that he is beginning to see the results of his hard work.

 

He has drawn together and built an equally passionate team around him, all from Italy so that everyone shares in his desire for the customer to experience a genuine traditional Italian restaurant but with his own modern twists.  Joining Walter is his equally enthusiastic and dedicated wife, Guida, who successfully runs front of house in this very busy restaurant.

 

Setting Walter apart from other restaurants is his fresh handmade pasta.  Although at around six hours a day, this takes Walter so much longer than bought in readymade pasta he is convinced that the quality of taste is more than worth the time.  In addition to the pasta, Walter also makes all his own bread in order to provide his customers with the freshest food.  Fish and lobsters are bought fresh and always prepped in house by Walter and his team.  Walter is passionate about the quality of his raw ingredients and, where possible, sources local Welsh produce or is able to order direct from suppliers in Italy.

 

Also making Walter different is his flexibility to provide the customer with what they want, even to the extent of preparing dishes that might not be on the menu, if time allows.  Because of this attention to detail and the use of fresh ingredients, meals at Il Pastificio are not for those that want fast food, it is more a place to relax with family & friends.