BabaNonna Coming to South Whitehall

BabaNonna, a new store specializing in Slovak and Italian food, expects to open Saturday on Walbert Avenue in South Whitehall.

Owners Tom and Margo Russoli pay homage to their heritage and the food they grew up with and love by naming the store after the Slovak and Italian words for grandmother.

"Whatever I'm selling here, we put on our own tables to eat," said Tom Russoli.

"We both have a real passion for this, " he said. 

The store will feature homemade pierogies (five varieties), haluski, halupki, a variety of sauces (including veal bolognese), rolls and kiffles. 

Haluski, for the uninitiated, are noodles and cabbage, and halupki are cabbage leaves stuffed with meat and rice and covered with tomato sauce.

"Everything is made from scratch," he said. Even labor-intensive kiffles, which they make with traditional fillings, such as walnut, apricot, raspberry and lekvar (prune), and non-traditional fillings such as peanut butter and chocolate, coconut and white chocolate and Nutella. 

Opening a retail store based on the food they love wasn't in the Russolis' plans but friends kept asking them where they could buy the delicious food they were making for them.

Also for sale will be handcrafted cutting boards and pottery, and imported olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

A soft opening is planned from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. A grand opening is planned for September. 

BabaNonna, 2137 Walbert Ave., South Whitehall
Parking in rear. Lot entrance on Belmont Street, off Whitehall Avenue.
610-351-6262
www.babanonna.com