ABOUT PASTi
"PASTi" is a blend formed by the words Past and Italy. It conveys a belief in traditional Italian culinary values held by Chef Hans Lee and his wife Rita Chiang, chef-couple at PASTi.
Behind the logo design of PASTi is the world-renowned Taiwanese planography artist Yang Chung Ming from 324 Print Studio. The advancing sailboat elicits a sense of unfolding a culinary journey to Italy. And the table is where the journey begins.
Established in the historic Nangang neighborhood in Taipei, PASTi is the couple's vision of a classic Italian meal: regional and seasonal ingredients, checkered tablecloth and rustic hospitality. Each detail evokes a sense of story, place, and genuine delight.
CHEF STORY
Growing up with my grandmother's home-cooking, my passion for food and cooking grew from a young age.
Just like any Italian would claim his/her mother or grandmother is the best cook there ever is, Italians hold food traditions to their culture and guard it with love and fierce pride.
The reverence for food and how it's prepared stems from the importance of family in Italy. And that is also the case of Taiwan, where I was born.
The intriguing commons between the two culinary cultures are mesmerizing. What surprises me the most is how heartfeltly Italian dishes can call out to the taste of my childhood.
So I set out to discover more about Italy and its culinary philosophy through its landscapes, its traditions, and its people's way of life.
The stories of my journey become food on the table at PASTi, like a collection of stories in a bowl or on a plate, executed in low-key, utterly traditional manners.
No. 30, Zhongnan Street is the place where I grew up living with my grandmother and where PASTi now is. It holds my strongest memories, like the taste of my grandmother's home-cooking.
Chef Hans Lee
OUR CUISINE
SEASONAL, INGREDIENT-DRIVEN MENU
We offer a seasonal, ingredient-driven menu, focusing on locally-sourced ingredients exposed to time-honored techniques and flavors rooted in Italian traditional cuisine.
WE SOURCE LOCALLY AT EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY
The true essence of traditional Italian cuisine starts with its ingredients. We make daily run to Kanziding Fish Market in Keelung and Ta-Hsi Fishing Harbor in Yilan for the best catch of the day.
A LOVE OF TRADITION
We also take daily tours to Ta-Hsi Fishing Harbor in Yilan at the northern-east coast for the best live catch of the day among fishing boats that just pulled off the harbor.
