Call us crazy for giardiniera. In our opinion, it is the star of the green goddess salad at Pastaria Deli & Wine. This spicy, vinegary condiment boasts crunch from cauliflower, carrot, bell pepper and celery and heat from jalapeno and black pepper; it delivers a vibrant tang to whatever it touches.
The salad is no slouch either, with gently dehydrated chunks of tomato, Grana Padano cheese, greens and a verdant dressing with notes of tender herbs. Somehow, altogether, it’s a salad that tastes like a pizza. Maybe it’s the tomatoes, maybe it’s the oregano, but whatever mysteries are wrapped up in this bowl, it’s a salad we return to time and again – with extra giardiniera, of course.
7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.773.7755, pastariadeliwine.com
This article appears in September 2023.