A Kindergartener's Field Trip to Cucina Calabrese, Inc.

Those of us of a certain age remember watching Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood on the regular. Our local legend in children's programming always had segments where he'd take kids - who seemed to have varying interest in the trips - to manufacturing hubs to see how products were made. In the spirit of Fred Rogers, my oldest child was whisked away for the afternoon to see how Cucina Calabrese, Inc. makes their artisinal pastas at the Republic Food Enterprise Center. Below is her account of the experience...

"I went with Aunt Freshy (co-owner, Francesca Calabrese) & Pap Pap (majority owner, Dr. Charles Calabrese, Jr.). We went to the building & were locked, but Pap Pap was able to get in. There was a bunch of signs that said don't put your fingers in there or they'll get hurt. One thing said it [pasta maker] would twist them [fingers]. One said your fingers would get chopped off [by the pasta maker]. There was a kitchen part with some machines, scissors, & knives. There was a big room with lots of ingredients there. I saw a big mixing bowl, too. We were keeping some pastas that were good & throwing away some that were bad. The ones that were tight were good. That's a picture of me & Aunt Freshy sorting it. We put the good ones into the bins. We could bring some home with us. They were trying to make it perfect because it has our last name."