Caffè is located on 17th and Pearl, by Frasca Food and Wine. (CU Independent/Maranda Bodas)
When the owners of Frasca Food and Wine, Master Sommelier Bobby Stuckey, his wife Danette Stuckey and Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, developed Caffè, they had one goal: to bring Boulderites a true Italian experience at an affordable price.
On a typical rainy spring day, I decided to get my Italian fix and see what all the hype was about. Tucked away by Frasca’s authentic Italian pizzeria, Pizzeria Locale, this sliver of an establishment is brimming with authentic Italian décor, products and flavor.
The restaurant emanated authenticity with terracotta tiles covering the small gallery leading to the bar and ceiling-high cabinets filled with Italian pastas, oils and other artisan treats.
While the large banner of a menu is written predominately in Italian, ordering was only daunting when it came to choosing from the wide array of hot and cold paninis, homemade salads and fresh baked pastries.
As an avid believer that the staff’s opinion is generally correct, I went for one of their favorites: the light but savory Crudo.
Standing at the bar, the space felt small but enticing with a pastry case filled with cornettos (or croissants), danishes and chocolate meringue. As I watched my panini take shape, I took a few minutes to indulge in the atmosphere.
To my right, I saw a rack of magazines and newspapers: A new addition to the space that allows patrons to buy reading material to go with their beverage of choice. Against the opposite wall, a bench lined with three small tables welcomes patrons to enjoy their sandwich while watching the latest sports game on the adjacent flat-screen TV.
A hallmark of the space is that customers get to see every aspect of the process, from the slicing of paper-thin prosciutto to the steaming of milk for a delicate but bold espresso macchiato.
After only a few minutes of gawking at the unique décor consisting of antique animal figurines and a rustic lantern-style chandelier, my sandwich was ready.
Adorned with a simple pickle spear and custom bagged potato chips out of Denver, my lightly-browned sandwich was ready to be enjoyed.
Biting into the warm, toasted bread that encased a savory blend of salty prosciutto, slightly-sweet-but-acidic balsamic and spicy arugula was an experience beyond comparison, as the warmth of the bread contrasted with the cool ingredients.
Savoring every last bit of my sandwich, I knew that Travis Vaughn, previous executive sous chef at Frasca and the man in charge of running Caffè, had outdone himself. With the sound of the espresso grinder and the smell of freshly-baked bread wafting throughout the small space, I felt transported back to my favorite Italian café.
In order to get the true Italian experience, I ordered an after-dinner espresso macchiato to-go. Resisting the urge to snag one of their increasingly famous Bombolone (a fresh-baked, maple-glazed cake doughnut perfected after six months of recipe testing by pastry chef Adrienne Lauer) I opted for one of the authentic Italian candies conveniently adorning the cash register.
With my macchiato in hand (served in an eco-friendly cup) I walked out of the café admiring the large Italian portrait by award-winning photographer Dave Woody and appreciating the fact that I was able to have an authentic Italian experience.
For those searching for a casual grab-n-go style meal, or a place to watch the latest game over a glass of house wine and an assortment of beer, Caffè is the perfect destination as they serve up hand-crafted Italian cuisine at an affordable price.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Maranda Bodas at Maranda.bodas@colorado.edu.
