Correspondent photos / Sean Barron.... Mark Primavera, who runs Armida’s Cucina in Poland, assembles The Godfather, the business’s largest sandwich, during the three-day Greater Youngstown Italian Festival downtown that began Friday and continues through Sunday

YOUNGSTOWN — At least three ingredients that go into homemade ribs, chicken and sauce may not be visible to the naked eye, but Sean Hughes will tell you they’re just as important as the sauce and meat themselves.

“It’s time, effort, love and sauce, and when you cook with family, it makes it all the better,” Hughes, who works for Guy’s BBQ, his father, Guy Hughes’ catering business, said.

The Braceville-based business, which sells and specializes in what it calls “award-winning BBQ sauce,” truly is a family affair, because many of Hughes’ siblings and relatives also are the lifeblood of Guy’s BBQ.

Sean Hughes and other family members brought their combination of love and family values to the 37th annual family-oriented Greater Youngstown Italian Festival, which got underway Friday and continues today and Sunday on and near Central Square, downtown.

At times Friday, Hughes gave added meaning to the popular 1959 hit song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by the Platters, because he was busily preparing on a grill a batch of boneless ribs on an evening of ideal weather that included a moderate and periodic breeze. Close by, his brother, Kevin Hughes, was handling a pan filled with one of Guy’s BBQ’s many sauces.

At a young age, Sean Hughes and other siblings became immersed in the family business that his father began decades ago.

“I knew how to cook ribs before I could ride a bike,” Hughes remembered, adding that he has been a staple at the Italian Fest for at least 15 years.

Specifically, Guy’s BBQ consists of many nephews, grandchildren and other relatives, Matthew Byers, Hughes’ brother, explained. The family theme also extends beyond blood relatives, he said.

“If they’re not family, they will be soon,” Byers said, referring to other employees.

THE GODFATHER SANDWICH

It wasn’t ribs or barbecue sauce, but giant sandwiches made in part with a very different type of sauce that was among the foods Mark Primavera was serving.

“This is the king, right here,” Primavera, who owns Poland-based Armida’s Cucina, said.

He was referring to The Godfather, a $39 sandwich filled with ingredients that include special peppers he credits his grandmother for inventing and an uncle for selling.

Primavera recalled having spent an evening during the annual Lowellville Festival “playing with ideas” about how to use the peppers to build creative recipes. He began to experiment with, then add to, some of the ideas, which, over time, culminated in The Godfather meal, he said.

“From there, you just try different things,” Primavera added.

In addition to the peppers topped with dressing, the huge sandwich on a hoagie bun contains half-pound chicken breasts, battered mozzarella sticks, marinara sauce, grated Romano and sliced provolone cheeses, a half-pound of New York strip steak, lemon juice and olive oil.

In 2020, Armida’s Cucino added a food truck that travels year-round to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Akron and other areas within about 90 minutes of Youngstown, Primavera said.

ACCORDION ENTERTAINMENT

Passers-by also were treated to a bit of music, courtesy of Henry Edwardo, 76, of Pittsburgh, who entertained them with his electronic accordion. He started playing the instrument around age 10, said Edwardo, for whom this was his first time at the local fest.

In a few weeks, he will be a fixture at an Italian Festival in the Pittsburgh area, he continued.

Edwardo also will be part of today’s entertainment when he is scheduled to play 4 to 6 p.m. on Central Square. In addition, Jaclyn Olesky will perform 5 to 7 p.m. in the same area.

The lineup today in the wine and beer tent, at Champion and East Federal streets, will consist of the Del Sinchak Band, Gli Italiani, The Ovations and the Butch Nichols Band, along with pasta-eating and homemade Italian wine contests.

Sunday’s scheduled festivities and music include the Lowellville Band, Jim Frank, the HouseBand, the Avanti Band, Olesky and pianist Nick Salpietra.

In addition, a little king and queen pageant and an outdoor Mass and procession are set for Sunday.

This year’s fest features more than 30 food and 24 retail vendors, a morra tournament, a 50/50 raffle and the awarding of scholarships to some Youngstown State University students.

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