West Town Pasta Shop Debuts to Free Families From the Mundane

Carbs are one way to deal with a pandemic, and a new West Town pasta shop opens Thursday to help with that endeavor. Flour Power debuts with a trio of pastas from chef Wilson Bauer (Schwa) and partner Alice Richter. The tiny shop hopes to pack big flavors, allowing Bauer a chance to concentrate on something that’s he’s come to enjoy: making pasta.

Bauer and Richter both worked at Schwa, a short drive north of Flour Power. Just as Michelin-starred Schwa disrupted the fine dining scene with a punk rock ethos, Bauer and Richter hope to do the same with casual food. Families don’t need to rely on chain restaurants for dinner. Flour Power hopes to give customers a tasty and affordable option. Meal kits, which are available on Tock, cost $11 each. Customers can pick those up during the day. Bauer will be cooking fresh pasta from 5 p.m. until close for carryout orders.

Malfade Bolognese (Malfade noodles, bolognese sauce, cream, butter, herbs, and olive oil); Cascarecce Rigata Pesto (Cascarecce noodles, classic basil pesto, whipped-lemon ricotta, and herbed breadcrumbs); Bucatini All’amatriciana (tomato-base sauce, cured pork, fresh herbs, olive oil, and Pecorino cheese)

Chef Bauer won the Jean Banchet Best Chef du Cuisine Award in 2017. The space, a former taco shop, normally has space for 16 diners. But Flour Power is only open for takeout. Chicago is already prepped to see a glut of new pizzerias, with spaces like Pizza Friendly Pizza and Pizza Fried Chicken Ice Cream already open. Pizza Lobo is on its way. Perhaps Flour Power is part of a new noodle wave, one that already includes Torchio Pasta Bar, Daisies, and Tortello.

Check out the fresh pastas at Flour Power starting today.

Flour Power, 1642 W. Chicago Avenue, Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday. Meal kits available via Tock.