Can you devour a good carbonara in Como on Lake Como? When you travel to Lake Como, in the Italian region of Lombardy, pasta is not the first dish that comes to mind. But what dishes are actually typical of the region around Lake Como? Pizzoccheri, for example, but here we are talking about a much better-known classic of Italian cuisine. Such a simple dish, but one that is so often prepared incorrectly, which is why it is best eaten only in Italy. We found it in Como when we were looking for authentic Italian Carbonara, and so I would like to introduce this restaurant to you in this article.
What is carbonara and where does this iconic dish originate from?
Carbonara is a creamy sauce made from egg yolk, Pecorino Romano (a hard cheese, similar to Parmesan), black pepper and crispy guanciale (Italian bacon). However, there are two theories about the origin of pasta sauce.
On the one hand, it could have been invented by Italian charcoal burners (Italian: carbonari). They worked in the forests of the Apennines and cooked a quick meal with simple ingredients such as eggs, pasta, cheese and bacon. On the other hand, it is said that carbonara only came into being after the Second World War. American soldiers brought bacon and egg powder, which Italian chefs combined with traditional ingredients.
Regardless of which story is true, one thing is certain: carbonara is now a world-famous classic of Italian cuisine and simply tastes delicious!
Why is Carbonara often prepared so incorrectly?
The question of why carbonara is often prepared incorrectly is perhaps not so easy to answer. The non-authentic preparation that is often, too often, served in restaurants is simply a different dish… cream is often added to the carbonara sauce. Or ham, or both. And then some chives on top of the dish. Yes, I have personally experienced this and yes, unfortunately it has nothing to do with a real carbonara. It’s best just to call it what it is, spaghetti in a cream and egg sauce with ham. I have already talked about the ingredients of an authentic carbonara in the section above.
You can find a recipe for Spaghetti Carbonara at The Modern Nonna or RecipeTinEats including a video on preparation.
Carbonara in Como on Lake Como at La Pasta Taverna
If you visit Como on Lake Como, you can’t go past “La Pasta”. After all, La Pasta has three locations in the old town of Como. The store, the bistrot and the taverna. For our lunch, we opted for the taverna not far from Como Cathedral in the old town. Shortly after the restaurant opened, we were the second guests to arrive in the small restaurant. There are around a dozen tables inside, with a small handful of tables outside in the evening, weather permitting. The atmosphere is sophisticated, upscale, yet inviting and cozy. Dark colors with bright accents dominate the interior of La Pasta Taverna, with exquisitely used light sources. Despite the gloomy, rainy weather, the interior is bright without being dazzling. A really great interior, designed to offer guests a pleasant stay.
During our visit for carbonara pasta at La Pasta in Como at lunchtime, more and more people trickled in without the service staff becoming less attentive. We only spent just over half an hour in the restaurant in total, without rushing through our meal. Everything simply ran quickly and smoothly – just as it should.
Tip: browse and discover more reviewed and recommended restaurants at Lake Como!
Authentic Carbonara in Como!
In our search for authentic carbonara, we came across La Pasta, so one of our dishes naturally had to be “Mezza Manica Alla Carbonara” for 17 euros a portion. Definitely a high price, but the portion we were served was convincing. And it was filling, oh how filling it was. Just a few minutes after ordering, the pasta dishes were served in show pans. The spicy, rich and greasy smell of the fried guanciale hit us immediately.
The carbonara with the paccheri-like noodles was creamy, topped with freshly ground pepper and crispy fried Italian guanciale bacon. That’s how it should be! The egg yolk-based sauce melted on the tongue and the teeth were delighted with the good Al dente bite of the pasta. A delicious dish, which could be further refined with the glass of Parmesan served on the side. The portion was more than filling, but so delicious that you simply had to finish it.
The carbonara pasta in Como from La Pasta is an absolute recommendation! Those who prefer a less rich pasta sauce will of course still find what they are looking for in this pasta-focused restaurant. There is also just pasta with tomatoes, with vongole, or the classic cacio e pepe. The restaurant offers the menu online, which can be viewed on the La Pasta Como website linked below.
Tip: the restaurant is child-friendly and offers highchairs for the little ones. A great service!
Restaurant La Pasta Taverna Como
Address: Via Cinque Giornate, 44, 22100 Como CO, Italy
Website: lapastacomo.it
Social media: Instagram @lapastacomo
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