Pocono News Section

La Festa Italiana Kicks Off in Scranton

La Festa Italiana Kicks Off in Scranton - Saturday, September 5, 2009 at 11:24PM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Saturday, Sep 5, 2009 @ 11:24pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY --Thousands of people celebrated at La Festa Italiana. Ask anybody about the food there and the answer you'll get, ÒBene!Ó The three-day Italian heritage festival is in full swing.

Your first question at La Festa should be, Òwhadda ya feel like?Ó The menus are full of good things.

But don't just set off into the crowd. A game plan is a must. Just ask Stephanie Marmo from Old Forge. ÒI usually start at one corner, walk the whole thing, decide what I want and go and get it,Ó she said.

The entire court square is lined with booths. That's four sides of food. Samantha Coassolo of Laflin said, ÒWe did walk around to check everything out, so we make the right choice.Ó

Elizabeth Kuna of Pittston Twp. said, ÒThis is what it's about. They have the best food here and they have a wide variety of food as well.Ó

If anybody ever said this festival wasn't about food, they were plain wrong. This place is filled with genuine Italian food and there are people behind the booths to prove that.

The recipes are old world. The pasta, the pizza. For vendors itÕs an art. The palate Ð your appetite.

Ashley Gennell of Arcaro and GenellÕs said, ÒWe've been making it for over 50 years, we have a good name, we have a good product, everybody comes to see us here.Ó

Gino Piccolino of Buona Pizza added, ÒWe have skilled pizza makers making the pizza and serving everything warm and fresh.Ó

And then dessert. Authenticity is a must. Carmella Scala said, ÒWe have the original Italian baker, been in the business for 70 years, 50 years, made him older than he is. Close enough, 55 years.Ó

Yes, they're still doing it the old way at La Festa.