Sagra delle Fragole at FIGO Pasta

FIGO Pasta in Vinings celebrates Strawberry Sagra

How incredible is it that the Italian language has its own word for food festival? The word is sagra, and Figo Pasta is celebrating its Sagra delle Fragole in honor of strawberries through the end of summer with a three-course menu highlighting the sweet and tart fruit.

House-made bread with olive oil, while waiting. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

 The menu begins with Bruschetta alla Fragole, slices of toasted ciabatta with a shmear of goat cheese, topped with a salad of sliced cherry tomatoes and strawberries with balsamic vinegar and basil ($5). The generous portion could easily be shared, but I confess that I gobbled down all three pieces without apology.

Strawberry bruschetta. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Next up: Osso Bucco Ravioli ~ a filling of braised veal shank meat stuffed into Figo’s house-made ravioli. Served with a Parmesan cream sauce and drizzled with a snappy strawberry black pepper glaze ($12). My ravioli-crazy daughter loved this dish, especially the tart and savory combination of sauce and glaze.

Ravioli at Figo Pasta. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

And for dolci, the sweet stuff, pasta dough infused with strawberries and filled with a rich mixture of Nutella, ricotta and mascarpone, then deep-fried to crispy goodness. Eager dessert lovers beware – fresh out of the fryer, you get a mouth full of Nutella lava and possibly a dribble on the chin or table. Small bites from the corners are the way to go here. And yes, the ravioli are delicious. By all means, share this dish ($5).

Strawberry fried ravioli with Nutella filling. Lucy Mercer/A Cook and Her Books

Figo has seven locations throughout Atlanta; I visited the Vinings location. Figo Pasta in Vinings is the best kind of neighborhood restaurant – patrons walk their dogs to the front door of the east Paces Ferry location, tie their animal to the porch rail, pop inside to order, and return to the porch to wait for an employee to bring the food outside.  It’s also toddler and infant friendly as evidenced by the many young families stopping by for pasta on a recent Sunday evening.

The sagra tradition doesn’t end when the strawberry season does (if strawberry season ever truly ends) – Grape Sagra is slated for September. 

Figo Pasta, seven locations throughout Atlanta. www.figopasta.com

The meal was complimentary; my opinions are my own.