WEST WYOMING, Pa. — Pasta is being cranked out by hand, as it has for generations at Marianacci's Restaurant in West Wyoming. Dominic Marianacci is the third-generation owner of the Luzerne County business. His grandfather opened the doors back in 1972.
"It's all hands on deck, and it's a family affair, for sure," said Dominic.
That family affair is rolling right into the next generation. Dominic's two children, Dominic and Maya, are getting their hands into the flour, just like their dad did so many years ago. Dominic's son is the fourth generation carrying on the name.
"I can't believe how long this restaurant has been here, and he's been doing this since he was 5, 6, 7," said the youngest Dominic.
"I love it, actually; I love working here. It's so fun and meeting new people and stuff," added little sister Maya.
The family is also finding new ways to thrive, making their coveted dishes accessible right from home. Marianacci's opened a new market next door to their restaurant on 8th Street in September. The market features homemade pasta, sauce, and pizza-making kits.
"This market really gave us a space to even add to it. We're trying to do meats and cheese, oils and vinegars. Everything that comes with the homemade pasta," said the business owner.
The family has plans to expand the market with gelato and pastries in the summer months.
There's also now a chance to learn the family's secret recipe as well. The Marianacci's will be starting homemade pasta classes in March. Dominic's wife, Joelle, cranks out pounds and pounds of pasta every day for the restaurant.
"It's a way we get to be creative with our hands, a way we can feed our family, and a way we can show off to our family and friends. And it's very, very simple to do," he added.
In these classes, you'll learn how to make the classic Italian pasta the family's been serving up for decades, tricks of the trades from the youngest pasta pros, and noodles in just about every shape and size.
"It's a pasta shaped as a butterfly, it's farfalle shaped as a butterfly," explains Maya.
The Marianacci family is welcoming all to be honorary members as they have for generations before and generations to come.
"I, personally, have great memories running around this place inside and out for years. I just have great memories of my grandfather, my uncle, my aunt, my father," recalls Dominic. "I really just want to just stay here where we're at, keep our name here, and maybe hit the hundred-year mark."