Nestled on Sunset Drive in Basalt, La Pastaiola is an artisanal pasta shop that invites nostalgia and experimentation. Owned by husband-and-wife duo Marco Baghetti and Aina Ismagulova, the couple works elbows-deep to bring comforting dishes while also inspiring community connections.
Baghetti happens to be from Naples, Italy. Although Ismagulova grew up in Almaty, Kazakhstan, she became very accustomed to Italian cuisine through a career in restaurant consulting, traveling worldwide to assist various restaurateurs. It was at Il Gattopardo in New York City where she met her husband who worked in the front of the house while she presided as general manager.
The couple came to the Valley three years ago for a fresh start and a new place to raise their two sons, Matteo and Stefano. They started getting involved with the local farmers’ markets and noticed something missing from the scene.
“The Roaring Fork Valley caught our eye. We felt that the community, the outdoors and the nature of it really spoke to us,” said Ismagulova. “Still, we couldn’t find Italian community foods — fresh homemade pasta or Italian sauces — that could be fast and easy to make with a young kid on hand. ”
The couple started selling homemade dishes and pastas at the Carbondale Farmers’ Market — selling out each week. Before moving into their permanent location, they expanded to the farmers’ markets in Aspen, Vail and even Longmont and Boulder.
After settling into the current digs, they began offering free cooking classes for children and families, a delivery service and catering. Ismagulova said the cooking classes are a way to extend the love their family feels cooking together.
“We have two young children who love spending time with us in the kitchen when we make family dinners,” shared Ismagulova. “It gives me joy introducing [families] to new ingredients … and seeing parents interact with [their children], creating bonds early on through food.”
Participating families are even given an inside look at traditional family recipes.
“There is this saying: ‘food unites people,” Ismagulova stated.“Through food we really are able to connect to the community and meet people.”
She praised the community, saying that she and her family feel connected here — which wasn’t necessarily the case while living in the Big Apple.
“I think the biggest reward has been being able to integrate and become actual community members,” she stated. “You can feel how the community empowers and supports you here.”
Ismagulova expressed gratitude for local news outlets in the Valley in helping get the word out.
“I’ve found that regular social media in the valley doesn’t really work. It’s more about radio stations and newspapers. That’s what I’ve learned running this business for three years now; it’s human interaction, word of mouth and actual newspapers and radio stations that people are fond of here,” Ismagulova stated.
The family is proud to bring both authentic cuisine, as well as the associated and unique opportunity of making it, to the Valley.
La Pastaiola is located at 72 Sunset Drive Unit B in Basalt and is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10am to 7pm. For more information, visit www.lapastaiola.co or call 970-975-0858.