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Pasta Power

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011

It’s been around since the 1920s, but carb-loading has come a long way since a giant bowl of pasta the night before a race. These days, experts reckon that simply eating pasta the night before won’t help improve your energy stores, and overindulging might make you sluggish on race day. Instead, they recommend starting carb-loading three to four days before the event, which means you’re free to start today!

So what foods should you eat? It doesn’t just have to be pasta. The Mayo Clinic carb-loading meal plan includes lots of peanut butter, crackers, bagels and brown rice. Other experts recommend mixing complex carbohydrates like bread, Wheat-Bix or porridge, with high sugar foods like jam, syrup, honey or jelly tots.
 
Whether you’re a cyclist or an energetic supporter, here is a list of restaurants across the country to help you pack in your pre-race carbohydrates, before Sunday’s race.
 
Cape Town:
The elegant Italian eatery is running a special for The Argus. You can have 2 courses for a very reasonable R99, and 3 for R120.
 
With 21 pastas to choose from, this restaurant has plenty of options for carb-loading.
 
Primi’s pasta dishes are on special for carb-loaders. You can have your choice of pasta with fillet for R95, with chicken for R72, or with slow-roasted vegetables for R68.
 
The suburban wine bar and restaurant is running a ‘pasta-thon’, for The Argus. Choose from three different pasta dishes, and eat as much as you can for R70.
 
Sinns is running a R50 special on six of its meals, and a special on three courses with wine for R135.
 
There is 50% off all pasta at Voila! from Thursday to Saturday, all day. 
 
 
Johannesburg:
One of Jozi’s top Italian eateries has a brilliant range of gnocchi. Ask the waiter for a full list; some of them are not featured on the menu.
 
Chef Paolo Adamo’s specials include a fantastic Spaghetti Mafia – with a tomato-chilli sauce  to give your starch extra zing.
 
Suppli and arancini starters are stuffed with carb-rich risotto rice, while Spaghetti Vongole or tender gnocchi make starchy solutions for mains.
 
You’ll have to fight the locals for a table at Luca’s, where you’ll find perfect pasta and great wood-fired pizza.
 
Try the roasted quail with polenta for a gourmet take on carb-loading, or tackle one of the giant wood-fired pizzas. For a serious carb fix, try the giant Nutella pizza for dessert.
 
Pretoria:
Pizzas here are up there with the big guns. Try Chicken Joe or the Talented Mr Ribley (with deboned ribs).
 
You’ll find good, traditional no-frills Italian here, with as many pasta options as meat.
 
Come here for good value and quality, in the shape of homemade pastas like Cannelloni al Forno and yummy pizzas.
 
Durban:
You’ll find hearty rustic pizzas and pastas here. Try their trademark rosette pasta.
 
It serves pared-down pastas and tasty pizzas – great for carb-loading.
 
The pizzas are light and crispy but you can pack in the carbs with the ravioli with gorgonzola sauce.
 
Think authentic, old-style Italian, serving very hearty pasta and pizza, great to get you ready for race day.
 
Port Elizabeth:
Pack in some lunchtime carbo-loading at Vovo – they're sadly not open for dinner – and take advantage of the artisanal pizzas, with fabulous toppings like fennel sausage.
 
Mangiamo serves up excellent pizzas, while its sister eatery, Wicker Woods, serves deep-fried, pastry-wrapped Lindt balls. A serious carb hit.
 
East London:
Linguine alla Marinara and baked layered gnocchi are great options for Argus competitors.
 
By Katharine Jacobs

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