ALLENTOWN, Pa. – A popular mom-and-pop business, known for its homemade pastas, sauces, desserts and prepared meals, is making moves in Lehigh County.
Cuz’n Vinny’s Homemade Pastas, offering a wide array of freshly prepared Italian specialties, is now selling its specialty foods at Jay’s Local in Allentown’s West End.
Cuz’n Vinny’s Homemade Pastas
Husband and wife Vince and Natalie Tannasso established Cuz’n Vinny’s in 2022 and previously operated the business at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market over the past three and a half years.
“We’re very excited!” Vince told 69 News.
“Allentown’s West End is a beautiful area, and Jay’s Local is so warm and welcoming. [Jay’s Local owner Lyell Scherline] is very kind, and we just fell in love with his business model. He loves helping local businesses, and we’re so happy to be collaborating with him and bringing our business there.”
Cuz’n Vinny’s held a sampling event at Jay’s Local on July 9 and will kick off its regular weekly schedule at the eatery this week.
To start, Cuz’n Vinny’s will be selling its freshly prepared items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, and Friday, July 17.
In the coming weeks, hours will likely expand to 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays and Friday, and additional hours may also be introduced, Vince said.
The Tannassos will keep the community updated via Cuz’n Vinny’s Facebook page.
“Going forward, we’re going to be there Thursdays and Fridays, and we’re probably also going to do two Saturdays a month and one evening a week.”
Cuz’n Vinny’s menu will rotate weekly, with this week’s lineup featuring prepared dishes such as lemon chicken over bucatini, basil and spinach pesto over linguine, sun-dried tomato roasted garlic alfredo with ziti and “Screaming Italian Pasta Salad” (olives, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, tomatoes, banana peppers, salami and pepperoni).
Cuz’n Vinny’s Homemade Pastas
Customers also can purchase garlic knots (served with homemade marinara), made-to-order cannoli (original, strawberry or espresso), signature sauces (sun-dried tomato, roasted garlic alfredo and basil marinara) and fresh pasta (ziti, gnochetti and spaghetti).
Pricing and additional menu details can be found on the business’ Facebook page.
Orders can be placed by texting or calling 484-838-2271.
“The menu will rotate from week to week depending on what we’re making, but there will be a lot of consistencies as far as our sauces and other items go,” Vince said.
“I make about nine different cuts of pasta, and I’d say our number one pasta is pappardelle, which is a wide thin noodle that you don’t normally see when you’re shopping for pasta. I also make angel hair, fusilli and penne rigate. One of our most popular meals is our lasagna.”
Cuz’n Vinny’s Homemade Pastas
For individuals who live in the eastern part of the Lehigh Valley, Cuz’n Vinny’s also sells its products on Saturdays at the Easton Farmers Market.
In recent months, other offerings have included meals such as carbonara with peas and pancetta, chicken cacciatore, chicken parm, manicotti and sausage, peppers and onions over pasta.
Stuffed meatballs and fresh pizza dough are also popular.
The Tannassos pride themselves on using high-quality ingredients, including premium meat from a local butcher and Italian-imported Molino Grassi glyphosate-free, organic semolina flour.
“That flour from Italy is double what it costs for any type of flour here in the United States, but I don’t care about that because it’s very clean,” Vince said.
“We’re all about eating healthy, and a lot of our customers feel the same and are aware of what’s going on with other foods out there. All of our food is fresh, high-quality and delicious.”
Jay’s Local is located at Liberty and North 23rd streets in Allentown.
Jay’s Local
The Tannassos are excited to continue serving the community at a new venue, not far from their former home at the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market.
The business’ former market spot is being overhauled for a new bathroom, and the Tannassos “politely declined” an offer to relocate to another area of the market, Vince said.
“We had several people recommend Jay’s Local to us, and that’s how it all started – word of mouth from customers,” Vince said.
“So, my wife put an e-mail together, and here we are – very happy to be at Jay’s Local with Lyell and all of the other wonderful people there.”
In moving operations to Jay’s Local, the Tannassos are also considering a slight modification to the business’ name.
Right now, the business is known as Cuz’n Vinny’s Homemade Pastas, but they’re leaning toward changing it to Cuz’n Vinny’s Pastas and Italian Kitchen to more accurately reflect the team effort behind the venture.
“I want to change the name to Cuz’n Vinny’s Pastas & Italian Kitchen because it’s a true collaboration between my wife and I,” Vince said.
“We collaborate on the meals, and she makes all of the fillings for the cannoli, with the espresso filling becoming hugely popular. So, it’s a team effort, and she essentially represents the Italian kitchen. If it wasn’t for my wife, there wouldn’t be a Cuz’n Vinny’s Homemade Pastas.”
Jay’s Local, which opened in 2019 at 2301 Liberty St. in Allentown’s West End, is an inviting cafe-style eatery serving “high quality local fare at affordable prices.”
The eatery, open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, also regularly hosts children’s storytime programs.
Cuz’n Vinny’s joins an evolving roster of businesses utilizing Jay’s Local to serve the community.
Another business, Project Steaks, began serving its hand-crafted cheesesteaks in May.
Dining and Cooking