If you’ve ever wished you could enjoy one of Chef Michael DeLone’s incredible handmade pastas from the comfort of your own kitchen, now you can.
Michael Coastal Italian Grille in Collingswood has launched a new venture, Michael Artisanal Pasta Co., offering limited-time weekly pasta packages so you can bring a little bit of the restaurant experience home. Every week, Chef Michael will release a different handmade pasta package featuring pasta fresh or frozen in convenient 2-pound bags along with a selection of his housemade sauces.
The process couldn’t be easier. Each week’s package is posted online for purchase, and once you’ve secured your order, you pick it up at Michael Coastal Italian Grille, located at 706 Haddon Avenue in Collingswood at pre-set times. Quantities are limited, and once they’re sold out, that’s it until the following week’s pasta drop.
I had the opportunity to try the very first package thanks to Chef Michael’s generosity, and I was genuinely impressed.
The featured pasta was his handmade gnocchi, which I remembered enjoying at the restaurant. In fact, it was among the best gnocchi I’ve ever had. Would it hold up after being frozen and prepared at home? As someone who adores gnocchi, I’ve never been particularly impressed with the store-bought versions. Fresh, handmade pasta is simply in another league. While I know it’s possible to make from scratch, my tiny galley kitchen doesn’t exactly lend itself to pasta-making adventures.
Thankfully, Chef Michael has already done all the hard work.
Preparing dinner couldn’t have been simpler. I warmed the housemade pomodoro sauce while sautéing some farm-fresh summer squash, then cooked the gnocchi exactly as instructed. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, drop them in, and once they float, they’re ready. I plated everything together, added a swirl of his fresh truffle cream sauce over the top, and dinner was served. But can you believe I forgot to take a photo of the finished product? I was hungry. #sorrynotsorry
From start to finish, the entire meal took no more than 20 minutes.
More importantly, it tasted like something you’d order in a restaurant rather than something you pulled out of your freezer. The gnocchi remained wonderfully light and pillowy, while the sauces elevated the meal into something truly special.
With back-to-school season right around the corner and schedules about to get hectic, these weekly pasta packages feel like the perfect solution for busy families or anyone who wants a chef-quality dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s an easy way to enjoy fresh, chef-made food at home on a weeknight.
Chef Michael has already teased the next release, and it sounds incredible: fresh linguine with housemade crab gravy and garlic butter, baby!
If you’re interested, don’t wait too long when new packages are announced. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
You can follow Michael Artisanal Pasta Co. on Instagram for upcoming pasta drops and keep an eye on Michael Coastal Italian Grille’s online store to order each week’s limited-release package before it sells out.
If you place an order, tell them SJFS sent you. And check out Chef Michael’s cooking classes while you’re at it!
SJFS is dedicated to food, dining, restaurants, and drinking in South Jersey. Got a news tip? Email southjerseyfoodscene@gmail.com.