Here’s something you may not know…
We offer fresh pasta made in our kitchen at Mana Foods. And the man behind the scenes, making it all happen, is Horacio who comes to us strait from Italy!
We love our imported Pama Roma pasta machine and it certainly gets a workout five days a week! If you haven’t visited our fresh pasta section in the store, its located in the refrigerated pasta case (with Horacio’s decadent GF & regular Tiramisu as well) right next to the deli, outside of the Vitamin Room.
When asked a few questions, Horacio gave us a lovely insight into himself and his love for food. We are so lucky to have him as part of the team at Mana and thought we’d share a little about him and the fresh pasta we offer at Mana…
What does Mana offer in terms of fresh pasta selections, and what are some of your favorites?
Pasta:
Spaghetti
Papardelle
Fettuccine
Also offered are versions of Spinach and Tres Colores
Ravioli:
Mana has developed about 20 different ravioli fillings, at this time the following are the flavors most requested by our customers:
Artichoke
Mix Mushrooms
Mushrooms with Truffle
Mushrooms with Rucula or Spinach
Butternut squash
Ricotta and Spinach
Macadamia and Pesto
Beets and Blue Cheese
Beets, Spinach and Carrots
Potato and Coconut Milk
Also, usually in the Deli you can find the ravioli cooked and deliciously prepared by the Kitchen Staff.
Please Share a bit about your experience and what inspired you to become an Italian fresh pasta maker.
“My experience in some way is detailed in the following questions, and the fundamental inspiration was the true Italian tradition, where in a relatively small country pasta is very different in each area of Italy–in the north, center or south.”
Wildcard: Share anything you find interesting about yourself and / or the work you do.
“My name is Horacio and in short, health, service and family traditions are my inspirations.
I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and graduated in Architecture, Scenic Art, Yoga ED Instructor, and ATB Awareness Through the Body.
The truth is that I have experience in very different but interconnected fields.
For me, food is one of the fundamental aspects of life, and for this reason I have worked with and explored different types of food, Ayurvedic, and Macrobiotics.
In my personal journey I have found that the physiological and psychological aspects of yoga and its universal philosophy have changed my life, allowing me to see and experience well-being in all forms.
More specifically, my perspective stems from ancient cultures where food was considered sacred and directly related to spiritual development. Furthermore, learning about Mediterranean food and the Slow Food Movement was also revealing, especially in terms of the importance of the the attitude when cooking and also when it comes to being able to savor food. “
What do you like most about pasta and the process of making it?
“What I like the most… It is difficult to define, but the selection of the flavors, the selection of the types, the use of my hands, and the realization that the product has a high artisan degree. What I like the most is that the client or the consumer must give their personal touch to complete it–cook it for the right time, think and create an ideal sauce for the chosen taste, and complete it with a good table to enjoy it with whoever they want.”
What brought you to Mana and what do you love about working at Mana?
“The first time I visited Maui, in 2011, I was introduced to Mana Foods. I noticed its name and said ‘one day I would like to work with this business.’ In 2013 I returned to settle on Maui, and I met Dana Grazianni and her husband, Marco. At the time, she was in charge of making fresh pasta at Mana and she was transitioning to work in the kitchen area. She invited me to work together with her. She showed me her wonderful process and that's how I started. Little by little we also incorporated new ideas together–in the flavors, in the labels, in the packaging, etc. My favorite thing about working at Mana is the sense of family.”
Swing through Mana and pick up some fresh pasta and maybe you’ll get the chance to meet Horacio! He adds so much to our team and we’re grateful to have him on board!
