Mano Bella Artisan Foods, the scratch-made pasta company that has gained popularity at local farmers’ markets since launching just under one year ago, is now open at The Market at 7th Street.

Raffaele and Madison Patrizi in front of their new space at The Market at 7th Street. Photo courtesy

Owned by husband-and-wife team Raffaele and Madison Patrizi, Mano Bella is part of the couple’s love story. They started with a presence at the South End Market, then were approached by the markets in Uptown, the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market, Cotswold, Davidson, and the NoDa market weekly at Local Loaf. They often found their products selling out — the chef’s special of the week, a fresh pasta or ravioli offering, would be gone within hours. 

“We were cooking out of The City Kitch, a ghost kitchen up in University, and we outgrew the space very, very quickly,” Raffaele Patrizi says.

Customers at the markets often wanted to know where they could find Mano Bella’s products during the week. Patrizi will now have an answer: the former Orrman’s Cheese Shop space in the Uptown food hall.

Mano Bella will begin moved into the space this month, following Orrman’s move into a larger space anchoring the back of the market. Shoppers can pick up fresh and dried pastas, sauces, and baked goods like biscotti and focaccia — all of the products available at the farmers market stands will be for sale. There will also be a pasta bar, where guests can order a specific pasta and sauce, and Patrizi will cook it in front of you to enjoy at the side bar, as well as soup offerings. There will be an expanded number of pastry offerings, thanks to the hiring of a pastry chef, Chef Sam Carrasquero-Chappelle formerly of Mother Earth Group (Fern, Mariposa), as well as some surprises.  

“It’s not going to be crazy, like a restaurant style,” Partizi says. “We’re going to be just like very quick bites.”

As Mano Bella has grown, the business has increased its partnership with local farmers to provide the produce they use. Garden Window Farm is the largest supplier for Mano Bella, even dedicating land specific to growing food for the chef’s use. Patrizi provided the farm with heirloom Calabrian chili seeds, which are being nurtured at the farm and will hopefully be in Mano Bella products later this year. 

This summer, you’ll still be able to find them at the Regional, South End, Davidson, and Uptown farmers markets, as well as in their new Market at 7th Street space.

“This is just like a little stepping stone for us to give it a chance for us to grow even more,” Patrizi says. “People need to expect a lot of new things from us. We’re going to bring a lot of news. So get ready!”