2025 was a year of exciting transformation at The Business Centre. Businesses grew, new faces joined, and one of the most delicious changes of all took place at the heart of our community: our new in-house Italian artisan café, La Cantina by Pastai.
More than just a café, La Cantina represents passion, craftsmanship, and a story that crosses countries, kitchens, cultures, and years of dreaming. It brings together the much-loved English breakfast our business residents love, and something beautifully unexpected: handcrafted, artisan pasta made fresh every single day.
Here, you’ll find affordable, healthy, restaurant quality food that you can enjoy at the café or cook at home.
To understand the magic behind the menu at our new in-house Italian artisan café, we sat down with one half of the team behind Pastai: Francesca.
The People Behind La Cantina & Pastai
Where Passion Meets Vision
Francesca’s role spans everything from preparing fresh pasta to managing social media, HR, and being, “the face of the business.”
Yafet, the other half of the team, has spent most of his life in Italian kitchens, learning from incredible chefs and growing through the ranks.
Francesca describes Yafet as a visionary chef who loves what he does with a passion.
Italian Artisan Café Bringing Fresh Pasta to The Cardiff Markets
Before Pastai was established, fresh pasta culture in Cardiff was almost nonexistent. “People didn’t really know how to cook it,” Francesca laughs.
So in 2024 the duo began testing the idea in local markets, starting with a small stall at Pontcanna Market where they sold handmade pasta to curious passers-by.”
“The feedback was very positive,” she says. “We began to build regular customers who appreciated the quality. That’s when we felt: we’re onto something
The Pastai Philosophy: Handmade, Slow Cooking, Locally-Sourced Ingredients
Pastai’s focus is fresh artisan pasta.
“We wanted to bring the spirit of cooking at home, reuniting families and friends, while working with the freshest local produce and the best Italian ingredients.
Everything is made from scratch using our own recipes and slow cooking traditions. Only natural, locally-sourced ingredients. Nothing artificial.”
This attention to detail led to widespread praise.
“Customers tell us they love the quality,” she says, “and they also say our pasta digests easily because the ingredients are so fresh!”
Artisan Pasta & Sauces for Homes, Cafés & Restaurants in Cardiff
Pastai’s creations now appear on menus across the city, including the popular Pizzeria Villagio in Whitchurch, Cardiff. “They buy our handmade ravioli and it always sells out,” Francesca adds.
Beyond the café, Pastai also runs The Pasta Lab on Clare Street, where customers can drop in to buy handmade pasta and pasta sauces to cook at home.
Their customer base is as wide as their ambition: families, professionals, business owners, and restaurants.
And the future? “We want to grow,” she says. “We’d love to supply fresh pasta to more shops and supermarkets.”
Feast your eyes on some of Pastai’s incredible pasta creations on their Instagram page.
A Love of Learning: Inspiration From Italy & Beyond
When it comes to creating new dishes, Francesca says their inspiration is never in short supply, mostly thanks to Yafet’s curious palate and constant travels.
“Yafet travels a lot,” she explains. “He loves visiting different parts of Italy, exploring regional traditions, and trying fresh pasta dishes in restaurants across London and further afield. There are more than 3,600 pasta shapes in Italy, and every region has its own unique sauces. That gives us endless ideas in the kitchen.”
It Feels Like a Hug: The Joy of Feeding People
When asked about the most rewarding part of the job, Francesca doesn’t hesitate.
“The feedback from customers is the most wonderful part. People tell us they feel like they’ve received a hug when they eat our pasta, it’s blissful. That means everything to us.”
Handmade pasta is labour-intensive, but the team genuinely love the process.
“I love stretching the pasta, shaping it, filling ravioli perfectly, hearing the machines humming in the background,” she says. “It’s a craft and it’s calming.”
At the heart of their work is a deep commitment to local collaboration. “Working with local suppliers is essential,” she says. “It’s at the heart of what we do.”
Why this Visionary Italian Artisan Café Found its Home at The Business Centre: “We Fell In Love”
Francesca tells us the move to The Business Centre felt like the natural next step for their culinary venture.
“We were originally looking for a kitchen space,” she explains. “Then the opportunity at The Business Centre opened up – a space where we could produce our Pastai products, serve breakfast and lunch meals, and also create fresh artisan pasta and pasta sauces for people to cook at home. It’s the perfect blend.”
They saw the café, and everything clicked.
“When we saw the atmosphere, the décor, the people… we fell in love. Everyone was so lovely. It was exactly what we needed.”
And so, La Cantina by Pastai was born, the authentic Italian artisan café crafted with heart, heritage, and a love for good food made with the finest locally-sourced ingredients.
An Italian Artisan Café when Classic Favourites Meet Fresh Ideas
Here at The Business Centre, La Cantina offers a comforting mix of the familiar and the artisanal.
“We still do the classic English breakfast because that’s what the customers love. But for lunch, you can choose between classic dishes and handmade pasta creations with a rich selection of delectable pasta sauces.”
“The feedback from residents has been so positive. They love trying the pasta and they enjoy the convenience of pre-ordering fresh pasta and sauces to cook at home.”
But for Pastai’s La Cantina, The Business Centre is more than a café location. It’s a springboard.
“It’s a place to grow, evolve, and take the next steps,” Francesca says. “We have a small business here with the residents but also a home for our brand as it develops.”
La Cantina by Pastai Welcomes You
Welcome to the freshest Italian artisan café in Barry, your new slice of comfort, creativity, and culture right here at The Business Centre.
