Tantos Puffed Pasta Snack is a unique and delicious entry into the snack market from Chef Joe Sasto. Joe is a standout in the culinary and restaurant industry, training under some of the San Francisco Bay Area’s most respected and honorable Chefs. He contributed to the rise of restaurants such as two-Michelin starred Lazy Bear, and three-Michelin starred Quince. It was at Quince in San Francisco where Joe’s passion for pasta truly began. You may have seen Joe on television shows such as Bravo’s Top Chef, or Food Network’s Tournament of Champions, and Chopped.

Lakuna design embarked on an initial discovery process by gathering notes on Chef Sasto’s roots and the inspiration behind this snack. Drawing on the Italian flavour profiles of the four initial offerings of Tantos—and Chef Joe’s own Italian roots—the brand identity played on vintage Italian signage and packaging. The short and punchy name, Tantos, invited a detailed type style that lends alot of personality to the brand. Meanwhile, the packaging design takes a playful turn with a subtle nod to its chef-inspired origins. Each bag has decoration that refers to a classic café oilcloth tablecloth pattern. In keeping with this classic or vintage motif it was decided that an illustration of the product would nicely round out the packaging; allowing the pouch to evoke feelings of nostalgia by lightly referring to old illustrated food and beverage ads. The snack comes in four flavor profiles so each pouch has its own individual colors which echo the flavour.