Eight years after opening Enrique's Mexican Restaurant at Loynes and Pacific Coast Highway, owners Enrique and Michelle Perez have expanded their business to include something a little unexpected from a Mexican eatery: a small Italian takeout spot called K Pasta.
Enrique, who has 12 years of Italian food experience under his belt and was a chef at Prego Ristorante in Irvine, had been eyeing the bakery location a few doors from his restaurant for some time.
"He's always wanted that little spot," said co-owner Michelle Perez, Enrique's wife of 15 years. "He just thought, 'That would be so cool to have a tiny little takeout pasta place.'"
In July, the bakery owners wanted to close and offered the couple the 800-square-foot space.
Enrique seized on the opportunity, quickly putting together a menu filled with homemade pastas, sauces, dressings and desserts, and opened K Pasta -- a laid-back space "that's pretty much all kitchen" with six tables and takeout counter -- about two weeks ago to great response, Michelle said.
The Seared Ahi dishes and the K Linguini with sauteed chicken, pink peppercorn, wine cream sauce are favorites, she said.
As for the name origins of K Pasta, Michelle laughed.
"The K is short for Kique, which is a nickname for Enrique," she said. "But it's a little joke between us. When Enrique was at Prego, I used to say, 'Hey, K Pasta!' because he was working pastas."
K Pasta is at 6218 E. Pacific Coast Highway. Call 562-494-8500.
Enrique, who has 12 years of Italian food experience under his belt and was a chef at Prego Ristorante in Irvine, had been eyeing the bakery location a few doors from his restaurant for some time.
"He's always wanted that little spot," said co-owner Michelle Perez, Enrique's wife of 15 years. "He just thought, 'That would be so cool to have a tiny little takeout pasta place.'"
In July, the bakery owners wanted to close and offered the couple the 800-square-foot space.
Enrique seized on the opportunity, quickly putting together a menu filled with homemade pastas, sauces, dressings and desserts, and opened K Pasta -- a laid-back space "that's pretty much all kitchen" with six tables and takeout counter -- about two weeks ago to great response, Michelle said.
The Seared Ahi dishes and the K Linguini with sauteed chicken, pink peppercorn, wine cream sauce are favorites, she said.
As for the name origins of K Pasta, Michelle laughed.
"The K is short for Kique, which is a nickname for Enrique," she said. "But it's a little joke between us. When Enrique was at Prego, I used to say, 'Hey, K Pasta!' because he was working pastas."
K Pasta is at 6218 E. Pacific Coast Highway. Call 562-494-8500.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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