Forma

I've been dying to go to Forma ever since I heard about their excellent pasta dishes that are finished by placing them in a big wheel of a specific cheese.  A bunch of us had planned going over to Santa Monica but because of the different schedules only Sandi and I ended up going. One of our friends just started a diet, one had a yoga class, one couldn't have cheese. So,so sorry for them..."the show must go on" as they say. We got there just as they opened. We could see the wheels of cheeses lined up with a dish towel covering them to keep them reasonably moist.

We were intrigued to see on the menu: Crispy Artichokes; baby artichokes, mache, snow peas, walnuts and goat cheese. Whole fried artichokes we had numerous times in Rome came to mind. Though not whole artichokes, these were wonderful. Sandi and I were so excited and just felt blessed! The artichokes were cut in slivers, fried till crispy. If you've never had them and chances are not too many people have; this alone is reason to go to Forma.

When it was time for the Chitarra Cacio E Pepe to bond with the Pecorino cheese, I went up to the stage to watch the show.  The master of ceremony first scraped some cheese inside the wheel and then dumped the cooked cacio e pepe from the pan, He mixed the pasta and carefully placed them on plates and grated more Pecorino cheese to top the masterpiece. The result was super delizioso! I particularly loved the chitarra as it had more substance than spaghetti.

I later spoke with Mario, the owner who told me he had plans of opening another restaurant. Unfortunately, it will not be in the South Bay. How I wish he would reconsider as there isn't a good Italian restaurant nearby.

Forma is located at 1610 Montana Ave. in Santa Monica, California.