Most of us know Josh Coates and his sister, Victoria Scott, through the culinary genius at Seoul Brothers and later Bubbles and Cream and Hong’s Kitchen. They opened Seoul Brothers at Marble City Market in November 2020 and were the hall’s longest-running and most successful food stall.
Life changes for both Vic and Josh led to the closing of Seoul Brothers earlier this year (Josh got married and they have a new baby and Vic started a new employment adventure), and now we are getting the first exciting glimpse of what Josh has been working on for the food stall.
Enter Pasta Vivo.
Josh has worked in some form in the culinary industry since he was 15. He has worked in every area there, from bussing and dishwashing to mixology, and he is now a chef. He first trained under an Italian chef at age 20 and fell in love with the cuisine after realizing that simple and elegant can go hand in hand. His first “family meal,” served to the staff before service began at the restaurant, was Caico e Pepe. He learned the foundation of cooking and grew to appreciate the simplicity of fresh ingredients found in Italian cuisine. His then mentor returned to Italy, but Josh always retained his passion for the food he learned to create under his tutelage.
Vivo in Italian can mean “alive” or, depending on the usage, “the feeling of being alive.” When I asked how he came to this name for the new concept, he told me it was because pasta was high on that list when he thought about the things that made him happy. It makes him feel alive. It just made sense. I can relate. Certain dishes make me do a little happy dance. I love food and the experience of food. While Josh was talking about Pasta Vivo, I could hear the same thing in his voice. He said, “No matter what is going on, if I can be in the kitchen, I can find happiness.” Same.
Josh is grateful for the team at Marble City Market and their encouragement to develop this dream and manage the details so he could stay in the same stall, continue pursuing his passion for Italian food, and share that love.
Each dish is 100% Josh’s creation. The pasta and the six sauce options are cooked to order. You can choose from two pasta options: Gemelli or Spaghetti. There are six sauce options: Pesto(nut-free), Parmesan Garlic Cream, Arrabbiata, Pomodoro, a seasonal lemon caper butter, and the one that began it all, Caico e Pepe. He chose sauces that touch all nuances of the palette. Creamy, tangy, garlicky, bright and umami are all aspects of the flavor wheel you can expect to experience. There are also protein options to add, including house-made meatballs.
Josh wants you to experience high-quality food quickly and thoughtfully created, making this a great lunch stop. Pairing it with just the right wine from Frank and George’s and good company makes it an intriguing dinner option as well.
As for the sibling duo, Urban Guy reported in June that they are working on “Kyong’s Kimchi” for mass production and sale in your favorite grocery stops. Using their mother’s recipe, they can keep one of the favorite dishes from Seoul Brothers alive, and soon, you can buy it for your kitchen. More on that to come.
Their business hours are Sunday through Thursday from 11 am to 9 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm. Stop in and see them and tell them we sent you!
