Published: July 28, 2007 10:01 pm            

PROFILE: The possibilities of Pasta-bilities

If the idea of chowing down on a fast food lunch in the car on your way to work makes your taste buds cringe, give them a chance to slow down and savor the home cooking of Pasta-bilities.

Marion Hylton, the owner of the new eatery called Pasta-bilities at 72 Webster St. in North Tonawanda, can often be found in the small kitchen that occupies the center of the cafe, stirring an orange pot of marinara sauce made from scratch. The colorful walls and quaint wooden tables that make up Pasta-bilities don’t leave much room for giant coolers and storage areas, but that’s a non-issue for Hylton — she prepares all the food fresh, daily.

Patrons of the 10-day-old restaurant are surprised to see Hylton cooking their meals right before their eyes.

“I want people to walk in and feel comfortable and like they’re at home,” said the first-time restaurant owner.

The menu changes daily, and is usually available in verbal form, direct from the chef. Workers in the area on their lunch break can call ahead of time and request a dish be made in advance to allow more time to relax, and maybe play a game of checkers in plush armchairs. Hylton offers whole wheat pasta and breads, and will adjust a meal to meet special dietary needs.

“I love to cook and I love to make people happy,” Hylton said, “and I believe from the response that I do it well.”

Having been a cook in a restaurant in Southern California and a caterer on and off for the last 20 years, Hylton sharpened her skills not only in the pasta realm but also Cajun and Mexican foods. She was born and raised, however, in Kenmore and is happy to be back to her roots. The opening of the cafe, which was previously Collette’s Cafe, was made possible thanks to her family. Hylton’s two sons help serve and clean, and her husband, a craftsman, built the cabinetry by hand.

“People are very supportive and glad that a family-owned business has come into North Tonawanda,” Hylton said.

One day, she hopes to expand the space to make room for a larger kitchen and perhaps a deck out back. The ideas for an Internet Web site and a daily-updated menu online are in the making. But for now, the petite cafe, which opens into the gift shop, Hodgepodge, and the Partners in Art Gallery next door, is full of it’s own possibilities.

“When I see people enjoying the food that I prepare for them, that’s what does it for me,” Hylton said.

Contact intern Leslie Church at 693-1000, ext. 157.

        

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