Retired diplomat opens Pasta Basta at Mirvish Village

Gianni Bardini, a retired Italian diplomat who spent decades representing his country in Tunisia, Australia, Brussels, Colombia, Mozambique, and Canada, is channeling his next act into pasta.

Pasta Basta, Bardini's new restaurant slated for Mirvish Village, represents his first venture into the restaurant industry. Born in Tuscany and educated in Italian culture throughout his career, Bardini saw an opportunity in Toronto's food landscape.

"Italian cuisine, for Italian culture, it really means a lot, much more than food," he explained. "It somewhat embodies some of the most relevant traits of Italian culture, and the main one I would say is to turn simplicity into art, which is very much what Italy is about."

Bardini identified what he believes is a gap in Toronto's Italian food market. "There is a wide offering of fine dining Italian cuisine, and there are lots of very good restaurants which do justice to Italian cuisine really well. And of course, there are also many fast food places, especially pizza and sandwiches," he said. "What's missing are places that offer high-quality pasta in a comfortable atmosphere at affordable prices. That's where Pasta Basta comes in."

He's tapped Chef Dario Tomaselli, a George Brown College instructor, to lead the kitchen. The menu will feature classic pasta dishes—think carbonara and pesto genovese—made with care and quality ingredients, prepared the way it's done in Italy.

Bardini fell in love with Mirvish Village's tree-lined pedestrian feel and careful curation of businesses. But the location's history sealed the deal. "Mirvish Village has an important place in Toronto history, because it was a place where Honest Ed's was, where early immigrants used to go to buy stuff," he said. "There is this link with the past, which for me is very inspiring and reminiscent of the link with pasta that we have in Italy."

Bardini says he intends to open "as soon as possible," though licensing and the official opening of Mirvish Village itself remain in progress.