HAZLETON, Pa. — Many people might not know, but this week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, during which entrepreneurs everywhere are celebrated and recognized for their work with their own startups. The Hazleton Art League is helping entrepreneurs start their own culinary businesses with the kitchen incubator program.
Many people are thinking about what they're going to eat this upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. These young entrepreneurs from Immanuel Christian School's Leo's Kitchen are bringing back a Hazleton staple you can maybe add to the Thanksgiving menu.
Mike Jarrell is the Executive Director at Immanuel Christian School. He says this is a way for the students to learn the process of not only starting and managing a business, but reviving a businesses' famous menu item years later.
"People eat this soup and it takes them back to the past. It's years and years, lots of memories. So yeah, it's like eating history," Jarrell says.
That history was written at the original Frankie's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Hazleton that closed down in 2022. Leo's Little Kitchen, a breakfast place opened up by Immanuel Christian high school students in partnership with the Penn State Launchbox are bringing back Frankie's soup. The students are bringing this Hazleton staple back to the city all with the help of the Hazleton Art League's Kitchen Incubator.
John Carsia, founder of Retro Dough is the kitchen manager at the Hazleton Art League. "The kitchen incubator is a shared space for small businesses and local entrepreneurs to start their business here,' Carsia says.
Frankie's Chicken Pastine soup is back for the holiday season, and students are making sure to follow the original family recipe Hazletonians know and love.
The Vito family owned Frankie's Pizzeria & Restaurant for years before closing it down. Laura Sacco of the Vito family partnered with the kids to give them the original Frankie's Chicken Pastine soup recipe.
"Carrots, celery, boiled up shredded chicken, a very good acini di pepe noodle, and then we have our secret with our chicken bouillon that makes the chicken base altogether. It is just a good soup that whether you're sick or you're feeling 100% great, no matter the time of year, soup always hits at home for us," Sacco says.
Students from Immanuel Christian School cook the soup themselves. Emily Arias, a senior at the school says they were proud to bring it back.
"Now we brought it back for them. On Thanksgiving, if they want to have some soup or if they just want to cuddle up, you know, in a restaurant or in a home, they can just warm up the soup and have a taste of Frankie's," Arias says.
To order or find more information you can visit Leo's Little Kitchen Facebook page by clicking here.
Quarts of Frankie’s Chicken Pastine Soup will be available at the following locations throughout November and December:
● Sacco Chiropractic: 1730 East Broad Street, Hazleton
Available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm
● Whipped Sweet Shoppe: 465 South Poplar Street, Hazleton
Available Wednesday – Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
● ICS Thrift Store: 725 North Locust Street, Hazleton
Available Monday – Friday, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm, and Saturday, 9:30 am – 2:30 pm