Open in the middle of a pandemic? Why not?

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This article was published 19/01/2021 (861 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Talk about your pandemic pivot.

Royalwood resident Tony Braccio has gone from music man as co-owner of Crystal Sound to adding pasta prince to his resume as co-owner of new Italian eatery Pasta di Casa. The restaurant opened on Dec. 21, 2020, realizing a life-long dream for Braccio and his family.

“I have treasured memories of growing up with scratch-made Italian food,” Braccio says. At age 15, he worked at The White House and developed a passion for cooking.

“After university, I started Crystal Sound. For years, having a restaurant was pushed to the back of my mind. Then COVID-19 happened. No more demand for DJs.”

Braccio’s wife Lynda was already retired and his son Matt had expressed interest in the hospitality sector.

Braccio’s aunt, Lucy Campanaro, meanwhile, had experience as owner of a 7,000-square-foot Toronto deli. Campanaro moved to Winnipeg three years ago following the death of her sister (Braccio’s mother’s).

Given the circumstances, it seems the time was right for a new venture.

“All of Pasta di Casa’s recipes come from my mother,” Braccio affirms. “The red sauce is sacred, going back five or six generations direct from Italy.”

Braccio’s father immigrated to Canada in 1952, from Campochiaro, in the province of Campobasso — a town of about 500 people in the Southern Italian Alps. He returned to Italy in 1960 to marry Braccio’s mother and they settled together in Winnipeg in 1961.

“We lived on Elgin Avenue and had a massive garden with 60 tomato plants, herbs and vegetables,” Braccio remembers.

Pasta di Casa was established in celebration of family and food.

The menu includes Italian classics plus take-home heat-and-eat meals and fresh pasta and sauces. Chicken, veal and eggplant parmigiana are the most popular dishes so far. Mussels, calamari, deep fried ravioli appetizers also top the list along with fettuccine alfredo and carbonara.

“We’re so grateful for the tremendous response from the community,” says Braccio.

Once code red pandemic conditions pass, Pasta di Casa intends to offer a special Sunday meal.

“In Italy, Sunday is traditionally pasta day,” notes Braccio.

“The entire family gathers around the table with a huge bowl of pasta and meatballs and everyone eats until they are stuffed. We want Winnipeg to have that authentic Italian experience,” says Braccio.

Call 204-582-0243 or visit www.pastadicasa.ca for more details.

Tanya Misseghers is a community correspondent for Royalwood.