An intimate setting, delicious home-made pasta, fresh seafood, crusty bread, cold Italian beer, satisfying wines ... what more could one ask for? The Pasta Tree, on the lower east side, has it all.

Last May, Suzzette Metcalfe, chef and owner of The Pasta Tree, almost lost her hand while cleaning her pasta machine. Her road to recovery has been long and painful, but she is reopening next week ...

To prepare the pasta tree, bring a pot full of water to a boil for the pasta, add salt and bring to a boil. Then, bring another small pot of water to a boil (you'll need it to briefly blanch the peas ...