by Hillary Dixler

The future really is upscale chains, and the next chef stepping into the ring is Gerard Craft, the beloved St. Louis chef/owner of Niche, Pastaria, Brasserie by Niche, and Taste. One of the most anticipated fast-casual concepts of the season, Craft's Porano Pasta offers up customizable bowls of pasta, farro, rice, or salad coupled with toppings that lean Italian, like meatballs and Calabrian-spiced tofu.

"The thing I really like about this food is that it's still just cooking," explains Craft. "We're still doing all the sauces the same way we would do sauces for any restaurant that we open... the only thing 'fast' about it is the service."

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Source: http://www.eater.com/