Jun 28, 2017 2 min read

Rigatoni and meatballs aren’t typically associated with writing assignments, but the fifth-graders at McMurray Elementary School were treated to the dish after one student professed her love for Italian food, as prepared by restaurateur Michael Passalacqua, owner of Angelo’s in Washington.

To review opinion writing last month, Linda Skrok assigned her fifth-grade English/language arts students to write “Best Restaurant” essays.

Students were asked to describe the food, atmosphere, service, location and entertainment that their favorite dining spot offers. After revision and publication, Skrok suggested the students mail them to the restaurants. They wrote cover letters, researched addresses and mailed the essays to eateries across the country.

Several of them sent replies to the students at school.

Passalacqua was so touched by what Megan Wente wrote about Angelo’s that he decided to go a step further and treat the class to a lunch of salad, bread, pasta, meatballs, gelato and sorbet. He gave the students a brief history of Angelo’s and explained the differences between gelato and ice cream.

Megan also was presented with a $50 Angelo’s gift card as a reward for her complimentary review of the restaurant.

“The kids were all so polite with a million thank-you’s and compliments,” Passalacqua said. “Some of the boys helped me load in and out as well,” he added.

Skrok said Angelo’s received rave reviews from all of the students.

“It is so rewarding for the students to see the positive, far-reaching impact of their words,” Skrok said.