This is the first installment of a four-part series introducing the people, philosophy, and passion behind Pasta Della Nonna in Goshen, New York.
When guests walk into Pasta Della Nonna in Goshen, New York, they are greeted by warm lighting, handmade pasta, attentive service, and an atmosphere that feels welcoming from the very first moment.
Behind the restaurant is owner Gilberto, whose journey is every bit as inspiring as the meals served from his kitchen.
His story is not one of overnight success. It is a story built over more than twenty years—starting as a new immigrant with little English, working as a restaurant server, learning every detail of hospitality, and eventually opening one of Orange County’s fastest-growing Italian restaurants.
Today, Pasta Della Nonna has earned hundreds of enthusiastic online reviews and a loyal following. Yet Gilberto still believes the restaurant’s success comes down to three simple words: “Food. Service. Consistency.”
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A new beginning in America
“I came to America in 2002 from Mexico,” Gilberto recalled.
Like many immigrants, he arrived with little more than determination and the hope of building a better future.
Most people told him there was only one way to begin.
“They told me, ‘You have to start working in a restaurant because that’s how immigrants start.'”
His first restaurant job was physically demanding, and he soon realized it wasn’t where he wanted to stay. One day, while walking near where he lived in Manhattan, he noticed an employment agency.
“The name caught my attention because it was ‘Cancun.’ I used to live in Cancun before coming to New York.”
The agency suggested something unexpected.
“They looked at me and said, ‘You look like a waiter.'”
Although he had studied tourism in Mexico, he had no real serving experience.
“I knew the theory, but not the practical part.”
The agency encouraged him to give it a try.
To his surprise, he was hired.
What seemed like a simple job quickly proved to be much harder than he had imagined.
“People think serving tables is easy. It isn’t.”
“You have to have balance. You have to stay focused. Otherwise you end up spilling drinks on customers. If it’s a cold drink, it’s bad. If it’s a hot drink, it’s even worse.”
Little by little, he learned.
“I kept practicing.”
Learning more than just English
As his career continued, Gilberto moved from Mexican restaurants into New Jersey diners.
That brought a completely different challenge.
“It wasn’t only the language.”
American breakfast culture was entirely new to him.
“There were so many different kinds of bread, bagels, eggs, dressings…”
“In Mexico, it was white bread or brown bread. Here, there were so many choices.”
Beyond learning English, he had to learn American dining culture.
“It’s not easy to keep up with all that knowledge when you weren’t born in this country.”
Instead of becoming discouraged, he treated every shift as another lesson.
Each restaurant taught him something new.
Eventually, he joined an Italian restaurant in New York City.
That experience changed everything.
Falling in love with Italian cuisine
After working in several restaurants, Gilberto found himself serving at an upscale Italian restaurant in Manhattan.
“I liked the food.”
“I liked the wines.”
“I liked the culture.”
Then he smiled.
“I fell in love with Italian cuisine.”
It wasn’t simply about making more money—although fine dining certainly offered better opportunities.
He admired the attention to detail, the quality of the ingredients, and the overall dining experience.
That experience planted a dream that would stay with him for years.
One day, he wanted to create a restaurant of his own.
But before that dream could become reality, there were still many years of learning ahead.
Continuing his education
Determined to improve himself, Gilberto earned his GED after arriving in the United States.
He then enrolled at LaGuardia Community College, studying accounting.
“I studied there for about two years.”
Balancing full-time work while attending college proved incredibly difficult.
“I had no family here.”
“I had to work full-time to pay rent and all my expenses.”
On top of that, he first had to complete ESL courses before taking regular college classes.
Although he was unable to finish his degree, he has no regrets.
“It was one of my failures,” he said honestly.
Then he quickly added:
“But I learned.”
“It was a wonderful experience.”
“If I had my family here, maybe the story would have been different.”
He paused before adding one simple sentence that reflects his outlook on life:
“Everything happens for a reason.”
