Annese Family’s ‘MaryNara’ Wins People’s Choice at Italian Heritage Festival Pasta Cook-Off
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — The Annese Family took home the People’s Choice award Saturday as hundreds gathered at Jackson Square for the annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Pasta Cook-Off, one of the signature events leading into festival weekend in downtown Clarksburg.
The family’s “MaryNara” was selected as the overall People’s Choice winner following an afternoon of tasting that featured 10 competing cooks.
The Cann & Mazza Family earned first place in the red sauce competition. The Jackie Decker Family finished second, while Larry and Eslem Gervella placed third.
Dustin McHenry captured first place in the white sauce competition, followed by the Shields & Bonasso Family in second and Jerena Turner in third.
This year’s event brought one of the larger groups of competitors in recent years to Jackson Square, while festivalgoers filled the downtown facility to sample sauces, visit with friends and take part in several other competitions held throughout the day.
For the Annese Family, Saturday’s competition also carried special meaning. The team cooked in memory of Mary Martino Annese, a longtime family matriarch who died last year. The family has been a familiar competitor at the Pasta Cook-Off for several years.
Pasta was only part of Saturday’s competition.
In the homemade wine contest, Nathan Turissini won the dry red category, Brian Griffith won dry white and Jay Peddicord won the fruit and berry category. Griffith’s dry white was also selected as Best in Show.
Tate Fleece earned first place in the sweet and medium peppers in sauce competition, followed by Tim Foley and Sam Folio.
Linda and Bell Paisan took first place for hot peppers in sauce, with Foley finishing second and John Shields third.
Diana and Mark Walker won the peppers in oil or vinegar category. Beth Gains placed second and Fleece Annese finished third.
Saturday also included the festival’s Run for the Rosé and hot pepper eating contest. Nolan Nutter won the children’s Run for the Rosé, while Allen and Dennis Leroy won the adult division. Josh Robino captured the hot pepper eating contest.
The crowd also kept festival volunteers busy throughout the day. More than 500 frittis were sold, with organizers needing additional dough to keep serving the traditional fried treat.
The Pasta Cook-Off is part of a series of events leading into the 47th annual West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival, scheduled for Sept. 4 through Sept. 6 in downtown Clarksburg.
The three-day festival will bring food vendors, Italian-American traditions, live entertainment, cultural activities and competitions back to Main Street. The Grand Feature Parade is scheduled for Saturday morning, Sept. 5.
Festival organizers shared video from Saturday’s Pasta Cook-Off, offering another look at the competitors, crowds and activity at Jackson Square.
Watch the video below.
