Business owner uses top-secret recipe to win meatball titleBy Rebekah Sungala
Pasta and sauce and lots and lots of meatballs. Lauren Linza of Hiller, 2010 winner of the Uniontown Italian Heritage Festival’s meatball contest, knows a lot about Italian cooking and will tell you the most important ingredient is secrecy.
“I don’t give out my meatball recipe to anyone,” she said, following Sunday’s contest.
Linza said meatballs and hot chicken are her specialties and that she plans to have a booth at next year’s Italian festival.
Owner of the former Stella Bella’s Pizzeria, Linza said she and a business partner used the top-secret meatball recipe when they had the pizza shop open.
“I decided to come enter the contest and give it a shot,” Linza said, noting that she was proud her meatballs were chosen as number one.
“I would have been happy just to be a runner up, but this is great. I’m really pleased,” she said.
Linza said her booth next year will advertise that her meatballs were chosen as winner of Fayette County’s Best Meatball contest during the 2010 Italian Heritage Festival.
“It’s something to be proud of,” she said. “It makes you stand out a little bit from the others.”
Linza said she also refuses to give out her recipe for hot chicken, adding that the dish is a favorite amongst family and friends.
“I get asked to make it a lot, but I can’t share the recipe,” she said.
The meatball contest, sponsored by Pasta Lorenzo restaurant, was held in the Public Safety Building parking lot Sunday afternoon.
Chef Joe Carei, owner of Pasta Lorenzo in South Union Township, and a panel of judges selected the beat meatball based on flavor, texture and appearance.
Event organizers who planned this year’s Italian festival said everything went well and deemed the two-day event a success.
The streets of Uniontown were filled with people both Saturday and Sunday, with musical entertainment abounding both days.
A variety of Italian cuisine was also available at booths, as were a variety of crafts and other items for purchase.
Italian Heritage Festival Committee members thanked business sponsors and individuals who donated for their ongoing support in making the event a success.