Gary Macchioni, the creator of Prima Festa, grew up in the "Little Italy" section of Hershey, Pennsylvania. Although the sweet smell of chocolate filled the air, the aroma of Old World Italian cooking from his mother's and grandmother’s kitchen is what caught his fancy. Gary watched as they performed magic from basic ingredients that were affordable at the time, and he witnessed first-hand the passion of cooking in the Old-World Italian tradition.

The magic began when his mother Gemma and grandmother Francesca started cooking. The kitchen was over flowing with cooks, kids, wine, dogs under foot, taste testers, music, and people singing (some even in key). So many cooks! The smells! The sweet scents of olive oil, garlic, basil and rosemary. The heated discussions that ensued about the sauce were how to make it spicier, thicker, or in their family’s way. However, no one ever doubted their ability to make pasta.

Now Gary shares his passion of cooking in the Old-World tradition through teaching classes that are hands-on, hands-in, and elbow deep in flour. You won’t find any electric mixers at these classes. All preparations are done by hand, just like Mama and Nonna did.

A Food Editor called Gary the "The Jay Leno of Italian cooking.”  He makes cooking fun”. His classes are like an Old-World Italian kitchen.

His philosophy of cooking always centers around the family. Children are encouraged to join their parents and grand parents in learning the art and passion of Old-World cooking. Gary believes the best way people will learn to cook, is to experience it in a hands-on environment.  In his classes, no one just sits around and watches!

Prima Festa events are fun, hands-on culinary experiences that will have you talking about them for years. They are a way to pass down the passion and love of cooking for the family. Students learn how to prepare Old-World Italian dishes using time-honored family recipes. He only uses recipes that can actually be made at home with readily available ingredients. 

Prima Festa events happen in many forms. They may be small private or public classes that include pasta, ravioli, tortellini, lasagna, pizza, appetizers, salads, Italian desserts, or a family-style multi-course feast with authentic Italian menus where students learn how to order food and beverages in Italian. As an added bonus, his students take home the creations they have just mastered. Gary and his merry band of experienced instructors love to host Prima Festa events in association with Lowee's Motor Coach Group Tours. Gary also loves to spend time in various restaurant kitchens teaching staff how to prepare and cook time-honored Italian dishes.

Sharing the passion of Old-World cooking is only part of Prima Festa's mission.  Celebrating the language and culture with the Survival Italian classes, establishing a Kids and Young Adults Language and Cultural school, developing a youth classical music series, and organizing the Prima Festa Italian Festival are additional ways that Prima Festa is preserving our heritage. 

Prima Festa is all about the family!
Gary wouldn’t have it any other way!