Endless Pasta-bilities for National Pasta Day (Oct. 17)

National Pasta Day is celebrated on October 17th and the pasta-bilites to enjoy tasty dishes are endless. The great thing about pasta is that it can be prepared by simply cooking and adding sauce, or much more intricately by integrating meats, vegetables and a variety of cheeses.  We’ve gathered some of the most delicious options around San Diego to celebrate this year.  Recently opened in Rancho Santa Fe, Nick & G’s welcomes friends and families to savor some of the tastiest Mediterranean/Italian cuisine in Southern California. The restaurant has created a wide array of signature dishes and offers an enticing selection of pastas, including the Pata Cabra Cheese Ravioli. Smothered in garlic tomato brown butter and artichoke hearts, it’ll be tough to save room for dessert.  The Haven Pizzeria, located in the quaint neighborhood of Kensington, not only serves some of the most appetizing pizzas in San Diego, but they also have delicious pasta dishes on their menu. You can choose between spaghetti or penne noodles for any of their plates. They also offer a gluten-free penne option for the non-gluten eaters. A light, yet zesty choice is the Pesto, made with broccoli, sun dried tomatoes and pesto, and topped with feta cheese. For a few bucks more, add protein and top your meal with grilled chicken.  Celebrate National Pasta Day with dinner at Farmer’s Bottega, a farm-to-table eatery in the heart of Mission Hills. You can start with an appetizer and beverage, but you won’t want to pass up the chance to try their Oxtail Ravioli. Incorporating fresh cherry tomatoes and caramelized onion, along with herbed goat cheese makes this rich and decadent dish. Dine in at Farmer’s Bottega between 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to take advantage of their social hour prices on drinks; $5 beers and $6 cocktails.  National Pasta Day just so happens to fall on a Tuesday, which Fig Tree Cafe’s Liberty Station location offers a special “Tuesday Date Night” menu. Couples can pick from a choice of appetizers to share, an entrée, with options like the Gnocchi Checca. The house made gnocchi prepared with heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil will leave you both satisfied, but with just enough room to split a delightful dessert. Bellamy’s, a restaurant just a few blocks from downtown Escondido, offers California cuisine with French influences. All menu items are created using the most robust flavors of each season, and each guest that comes to dine is guaranteed to experience flavorful dishes in a relaxed family atmosphere. Highly recommended is the Mountain Meadow Mushroom Ravioli, with the ravioli made in-house and the freshest mushrooms available. This appetizer, hearty enough to enjoy as an entrée, comes served with parmesan cheese and ruby port wine sauce. If you’re in search of an elegant and sophisticated place to dine, look no further than Osetra Seafood & Steaks, in San Diego’s Gaslamp District. Osetra’s menu boasts gourmet seafood and handmade pastas direct from the culinary traditions of Europe. You won’t be disappointed when you try the chef’s classicCrab Linguini dish, consisting of clams, crab, mussels and julian zucchini served in a brandy cream sauce. Order a glass of wine from Osetra’s award-winning wine collection to pair with your dinner!