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Community Corner

At the Farmers' Market: Nona Rosa's Pizzelles

Husband and wife team serve up authentic Italian cookies.

When best-selling author Elizabeth Gilbert made her journey through Italy dining on the finest pasta and wine in the book “Eat, Pray, Love” she said, “I am a better person when I have less on my plate.” Though that quote imparts a truth greater than cuisine, it does speak to the heart of Italian cooking.

A simple culinary experience that reflects tradition and family. This is what Nona Rosa’s Pizzelles achieves with their artful Italian cookies. Owner Mark Snyder started the Atlanta-based business after some encouragement from relatives one Christmas.

“He started making them as gifts for friends and family, and they started suggesting he make them to sell,” said Jennifer, Mark’s wife and the designated official taste tester.

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Since then he has expanded to selling the treats at several retail food stores in the Atlanta area including Bakeshop in Midtown and the two locations in Snellville and Lawrenceville.

Pizzelles are traditional waffle-shaped cookies originating in Northern Italy that are flavored with anise or vanilla. They are often served at special holidays like Christmas and Easter and can often be found at many Italian weddings. Jennifer said that they can also be used to make ice cream sandwiches or Napoleons with whipped cream and berries.

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The Italian cookie was new for Jennifer Snyder until she met her husband

“I had never heard of Pizzelles," she said. "I grew up Jewish.”

Mark Snyder had grown up with Pizzelles watching his mother prepare them for the holidays, she added. But the cross-cultural connection created a mutual love for the cookies that they have been able to share with family, friends and now the public.

Nona Rosa’s offers several flavors of Pizzelles including almond, orange zest rum, lemon and a vanilla anise, one which Jennifer Snyder said is a great mid-afternoon buffer for red wine.

Nona Rosa’s can be found for $6 a dozen at the Snellville Farmer’s Market. Customers can also visit their website, www.nonarosaskitchen.com to find retail locations where the Pizzelles are sold.

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