Vendors prepare for Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days, including owner of Pittsburgh storefront

PITTSBURGH — With Bloomfield’s Little Italy Days comes the next generation of Italian chefs, including a ravioli connoisseur you might have seen on social media.

From Instagram stories to a storefront on Liberty Avenue, Saint Ravioli and its success started with a loyal following online buying up ravioli by the dozen — so much ravioli that owner Justin Avi decided to quit his day job as an insurance agent to sell his handmade creations full-time.

“I had been working on my pasta recipes, mainly for just family and friends, and then when the pandemic started, it became a way to just stay connected to people,” Avi said.

With a variety of fillings and sauces, some of Avi’s recipes might be a little different than your grandmother’s classics.

“…Bacon cheeseburger ravioli, buffalo chicken ravioli, my wedding soup ravioli is probably my most popular,” Avi said.

Customers keep coming back for more, and Avi is prepared to give the people what they want. He’s one of the dozens of vendors ready for the crowds at this year’s Little Italy Days in Bloomfield, making thousands of ravioli for the event. Ben Palumbo is a vendor from Ohio, but before he started selling on Friday, he came hungry.

“Sausage and cavatelli - that’s what we’re looking for,” Palumbo said.

“There are a lot of great places here in Bloomfield, and there’s always a want and need for more,” Avi said.

While Little Italy Days is a highlight of the summer for many business owners, they’re looking ahead to the future, as well. Avi hopes to eventually expand his hours and sell other pastas without straying too far from those ravioli roots.

“Maybe it’s a nostalgic thing, about a plate of ravioli we had as a kid we’re trying to think back to...It’s really taken off,” Avi said.

Little Italy Days continues Friday and Saturday from noon until 9 p.m. It wraps up Sunday at 6 p.m.

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