Pasta, Rice or Grain 2009

Outstanding Pasta, Rice or Grain 2009: Bove’s Lasagna

Bove’s Café was opened in Burlington, Vt., in 1941 serving traditional Neapolitan cuisine. The timing was challenging, however: They opened the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor (on Pearl Street no less). But, in spite of those dramatic times, the restaurant became a local institution.

For almost 70 years, Bove’s has served its signature lasagna, which is made in small batches with all-natural ingredients such as freshly made pasta, hand-rolled meatballs and the company’s traditional marinara sauce. While the item has always been a local favorite, it got national attention when Bobby Flay challenged Mark Bove, one of the third generation of Bove family restaurateurs, to a lasagna throwdown on his Food Network show. Although Flay won that round, out-of-state consumers started asking for the lasagna and, says Bove, “we had to hustle to figure out how to take the lasagna from a homestyle family restaurant and produce it for retail. But within six months we had the product the way we wanted it.”

The lasagna joins the rest of the company’s specialty food line, including seven varieties of marinara sauce as well as Italian-style meatballs. A vegetarian lasagna is in the works.

Next up for the company? Hopefully a rematch with Bobby Flay. “Now that we’ve won the Gold,” says Bove, “we’re hoping he’ll want to go again.” Suggested retail price: $9.99 for a 30-ounce package. boves.com.–S. Segrest