New Fast-Casual Restaurant Prima Aprés Opens in Mandeville

MANDEVILLE, La. (press release) – A new woman-owned restaurant in Mandeville, Prima Aprés, has opened with a focus on pasta and pavlova. Taken from the words prima, which means first in Italian, and aprés, which means after in French, the restaurant concept marries Italian pasta (eaten first) and French meringue (eaten after).

The elevated fast-casual restaurant from founder and executive chef Abney Harper and restaurant executive James Vitrano offers dishes made to order, with an array of choices. For example, there are six pasta shapes made fresh in-house daily (such as spaghetti and orecchiette) and six chef-created sauces (such as bolognese and buttery lemon) from which to choose, plus toppings like pecorino romano, Parmigiano Reggiano, olives, breadcrumbs, crispy prosciutto and red pepper flakes.

The pasta can be enjoyed onsite (served in white Chinese takeout boxes with chopsticks), or guests can buy a bag to cook at home. Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy homemade pavlovas (a French meringue dessert made from whipped egg whites and sugar) with vanilla bean ice cream and toppings (such as English toffee, toasted coconut and caramel sauce).

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The rented space on North Causeway Boulevard, designed by Harper and remodeled by Cassesi Construction, features a sophisticated white background, plenty of jars filled with dried pasta and pavlova, and modern seating for guests wishing to dine in.

Prima Aprés will soon have its liquor license, and a second location is scheduled to open in Baton Rouge next month. Harper and Vitrano also plan to open more locations in the New Orleans area and subsequently outside of Louisiana.

2180 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, 985-807-1144, @primaapres

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