You Arrabi-oughta Try This!

Hello, all! Guess who's back, back again...back with a new recommendation for those of you who are hungry for something cheap, easy, and delicious. 

Last Wednesday, I had the pleasure of hitting up a food truck that I've never been to, despite it being within walking distance of my apartment. It's also right by the beach, which was a great spot to try the Piccola Onda (Little Wave) rendition of my favorite pasta: Arrabiata! 

When I lived in Santa Monica, my comfort meal was a plate of this deliciously spicy penne pasta, from Ugo's, a restaurant in nearby Culver City. Few restaurants make it, so I was very excited for the chance to have it again. 

Alas, the verdict was that thought it was delicious, with incredibly fresh tasting ingredients, it was a bit too spicy, this time. But well, the chef is from Rome, so it was very authentic, according to him. He made a point to inform me that it would not be prepared with spaghetti nor cheese, as some Americans might expect. I was grateful I didn't have to worry about unwanted parmesan, like I do in most restaurants. According to him, his grandmother would have been horrified if he'd added any. 

In any case, the pasta, which, of course, had the perfect amount of give under my teeth (not too much, not too little) was freshly prepared by the man himself, a supplier of many restaurants around the island. His truck, however, sells it for a lower price. This is something he was proud to advertise, in his easygoing way. I say easygoing, because when he strode up to unlock his truck, about a minute after my arrival, I inquired if was too early, to which he very calmly replied with a shrug that on the contrary, he was too late! 

The food, however, did not take long at all, though there was a small wait, enough to convey that the food was not precooked. I really respect the effort that went into everything, it made for a takeout meal that felt like much more.