By Erin Rowe
A little country drive out
to Cave Springs would be
worth the trip just to meet the
family behind the Pastafina
Restaurant on Lowell Avenue.
Chef and owner, Benny
Dedushaj, personally runs the charming house
with his wife Bona, and two children Arlind
(17) and Liona (9). But they didn't start in
Arkansas with their dream of a family-run
business. It all really began on the streets of
New York City. Benny, the youngest of 13,
came to the US from Montenegro at a young
age (over 27 years ago) and began working
for his uncles' stores and restaurants in the
big apple. ey ran mainly Italian-themed
establishments and steakhouses there, as well
as in Fort Worth, Texas, where they'd been
established with businesses over 50 years, and
where he eventually met his wife, Bona. When
he came to visit friends in Arkansas in 2008,
he fell in love with the area. He subsequently
brought his family here and opened all of
the Joe's in the area, eventually garnering
12 restaurants in Arkansas he ran himself,
under his adept belt. So, you could say, this
restaurateuring family's been around the block.
With only one restaurant le, Pastafina of
Cave Springs, Benny notes, "I kept this one –
and I love it as my restaurant. To give them (the
people) something they'd like that's older…
non-commercial feeling. is may be my last
restaurant. I like to make people feel good.
at's what Pastafina stands for – keeping
people connected with the older ways" and the
home-style restaurants of yesteryear. Honestly,
it's quite comfortable the environment Benny's
created within an old home right in the middle
of the country town. "e recipes, like the
building, are still cooked in the old ways. Our
seafood combos, the Chicken Arrabbiata, and
especially the bread (served at the table) is at
least 35 years old in their origin. It all goes back
to New York times as a kid and how I learned
to cook it with my family there. We make
everything from scratch here in the restaurant
just like I was taught."
Love blossoms in the food because it is
a family that loves it. But it's a tremendous
tribute that this husband and wife can
Eats
For the love of food:
The family
of Pastafina
24 • February 2023 • OZarK LIVING
