Authentic Italian sausage sensation: Bellaire Sons of Italy prepares 3000 pounds for festival

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — As the Undo’s Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival gets underway, the Bellaire Sons of Italy booth is serving their popular Italian sausage sandwiches.

7News spoke with them earlier today and they told us they make 3000 pounds of sausage to prepare for this festival.

There’s an old saying that “Nobody wants to see how the sausage is made.”

But in this case, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

7News has a report on the intricate process that leads up to these sought-after sandwiches.

It’s organized, planned, and choreographed.

There’s not much room. And so we can’t be tripping and bumping into each other. Everyone goes in their assigned position and does a job.”

Bill Ault, President, Bellaire Sons of Italy

This year, they started with 1160 pounds of pork, which they grind and season with secret spices.

They feed it nonstop into the machine that feeds it out into the casings.

It comes out looking like long snakes that have to be stabbed for aeration so nothing explodes later.

Then, it has to be cut into links of a precise length.

And they have boards with markings on them. These markings have been engraved in these cutting boards.”

Bill Ault, President, Bellaire Sons of Italy

The links then slide over to the next man who collects and counts them and puts them neatly into containers.

Everything goes so smoothly, it’s really good to watch. They could talk back and forth if they want to but most of the time they’re busy concentrating on their work.”

Bill Ault, President, Bellaire Sons of Italy

While they do that, the women slice the Italian buns for the sandwiches.

And if you’d like to cook like an Italian, their cookbook will be on sale at the booth.

There are over 200 recipes in the book. My favorite is the carbonara. They’re on sale for 25 bucks.”

Bill Ault, President, Bellaire Sons of Italy

It features family recipes for bread, pasta, sauces, soups, and desserts.

The sausage sandwiches and the cookbooks are also on sale at the Sons of Italy Lodge, today through the weekend, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

That’s at 3348 Belmont Street, Bellaire.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.