The aroma of pasta, sauces and frittis filled the air at Jackson Square Saturday during the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Pasta Cook-Off. Hundreds of people came out to enjoy a day of music, dancing, pasta tasting and prize giveaways.

Nine cooks prepared 13 red and white sauces for the cook-off. There were also canned pepper and homemade wine competitions, as well as a hot pepper eating contest. “It is a fantastic cook-off with beautiful weather and a nice mix of returning chefs and new ones this year,” volunteer Benjamin DeFazio said.