Pepe is an Italian restaurant on 10th Avenue that makes some marvelous dishes and offers some reasonable lunch specials. Still, I intend to slide-tackle it right to the ground (but with love and respect.)
Roommate Shane was also inspired by the sense of competition in our kitchen last night, so much so that he did a little bloodletting on Pepe Giallo's behalf! So the cookery was that much more exciting as the pasta went on the back burner (pun intended) for a moment, and I traded out my chef's hat for a nurse's one.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I will admit that I'd made this before so I both knew that Eva would like it and that it would be cost-effective. Nonetheless, it proves the point.
Anatomy of "Capellini, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Black Olives, Goat Cheese" in the style of Pepe Giallo.
1/2 box angel hair pasta: $.95
2 plum tomatoes: $1
1/2 large farmer's market zucchini (courgette): $.50
Kalamata olives from Amish Market: $1.36
1/2 log of Chevre: $2
TOTAL cost at Pepe Giallo for 2 servings ($9.95 ea) plus tax and tip: $26 (not to mention the likelihood we would have spent another $10 for dessert and espresso if we'd actually gone there.)
TOTAL for 2 servings Ladies Who Lunch-style: $5.81
Boo ya, Pepe. That's what!
In all fairness, I will also point out a few limitations to the brown-bag version of this.
A) While not a statistical impossibility, the experiment presupposes that Eva and I would have ordered the same thing had we gone out. However, at these prices I could have cooked 2 separate dishes and still come in under the restaurant price!
B) For our $26 we would have also received some warm Italian bread and olive oil for dipping. Alas. My waistline agrees that missing this was a good thing, though.
So still, boo ya, says me. And I had control over how much garlic went in, and people around me seem to be keeping no more distance than usual.
Who's next?
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