Today we’d like to introduce you to Marco Zafarana & Ali Snow. They shared their story with us below:
Ciao e benvenuto! Zaffo’s Artisan Pasta is a brand-new food business in Salt Lake City, UT founded by Marco Zafarana and Ali Snow. We met in 2012 while Ali was studying abroad at a performance academy in Italy. We both have backgrounds in classical music (Ali is a pianist and Marco is a flutist) and connected through a mutual friend who was studying at the same piano performance program Ali was in. At the time Ali hardly spoke any Italian and Marco’s English was very rusty, so it’s a small wonder we ended up together!
We started dating long-distance in 2014 (throughout Ali’s moves back to Utah, then Milan, then NYC) and were married in Como in 2018. We moved back to Salt Lake City shortly thereafter. At about that time, this idea for a fresh pasta business began percolating and we started testing all kinds of ideas with friends and family. Early in 2020, we started getting serious about getting the business up and running, and then as we all know… COVID hit. While on lockdown we continued to cook and test and our ideas for the business went through a few different iterations.
Late last year (2022) we started ramping up again as COVID began to recede and we rented a shared commercial kitchen space at ComCom kitchen. We opened our doors onMarch 4 and are so thrilled to share the goodness that is fresh Italian pasta with Salt Lake City.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We both have experience setting up small nonprofits and working as freelancers, but starting a food business was an altogether different kind of beast. Of course, COVID delayed our plans but at the same time gave us valuable time to really think through our concept so we could be as prepared as possible. And, of course, as in the performing arts industry, we’ve had to be nimble and flexible as things (inevitably) didn’t go to plan… the show must go on!
One example of this was during our soft opening in early February.
About two-thirds of the way through the day our hand-cranked pasta machine broke and we somehow had to make do for the rest of the evening. This delayed our public opening as we needed to order a new machine and wait for it to arrive from Italy. Initially, we thought we would be able to make it work with the hand-cranked pasta machine until we could save up for an electric one… but clearly that wasn’t the case. The silver lining is that this new machine immediately leveled up our game and we’ve been able to provide even more delicious fresh pasta to our customers than we could have before.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe you can tell us more about your business next?
Absolutely. At Zaffo’s Artisan Pasta we offer fresh pasta, cooked to order and ready to take away and enjoy. You can order in person, online for pickup, or delivery. Choose one of four different cuts of fresh pasta and one of five sauces and we’ll prepare it fresh in front of your eyes. We also offer a selection of homemade Italian desserts and drinks to round out a perfect Italian meal. We follow traditional Italian recipes and use only the highest-quality ingredients available. Anything we can’t source locally comes directly from Italy.
What sets us apart is our fast-casual concept. We take inspiration from pasta’s origins in Italy as a street food. We don’t skimp on the quality and pride ourselves on the authenticity of our products. Everything is made fresh and how you’d expect your Italian nonna (grandma) to make it for you.
Buon appetito!
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In our experience, it is helpful to have both personal mentors (or cheerleaders) as well as professionals. We have close family and friends we can count on to give us honest feedback as well as support as we’ve moved through all the awkward stages of developing an idea.
It’s also been wonderful getting to know our colleagues who also rent space at ComCom kitchen who have been exactly where we are now. It’s inspiring to see where they are at today and they’ve been such great resources and friends.
Pricing:
To say “thank you” for your early support, enjoy 30% off your entire order for the month of March!
- Regular size portion: any cut of fresh pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, reginette, pappardelle) – $11.99 – $16.99 depending on sauce choice (San Marzano Tomato, San Marzano Tomato with Veggies, Pesto alla Genovese, Spinach-Pecan Pesto, Ragù alla Bolognese)
- Bambino size portion (for 12 years and under): any cut of fresh pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, reginette, pappardelle) – $8.49-$11.99 depending on sauce choice (San Marzano Tomato, San Marzano Tomato with Veggies, Pesto alla Genovese, Spinach-Pecan Pesto, Ragù alla Bolognese)
- Homemade Italian desserts: Tiramisù, Mixed berry panna cotta, Chocolate panna cotta – $6
- Selection of San Pellegrino Italian Sodas and sparkling water – $2.50
Contact Info:
- Website: zaffospasta.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zaffospasta/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zaffospasta
Image Credits
Ali Snow and Emily Whitchurch
