Our Story
Every ingredient we grow and every batch of pasta we make carries the weight of where we come from. Built on the dual pillars of French-American agricultural roots and authentic Italian culinary traditions, our mission has always been simple: keep it real, keep it connected, and keep traditions alive.
Drendel Family Arrival
1799
Francois Xavier Drendel
Francois Xavier Drendel born in 1799 in France.
Coming to the USA
First Drendel (Xavier) comes to the United States in 1846 to Naperville, Illinois.
1846
1800s
Farming Begins
Farming began in the late 1800's at the original Drendel farm which is now the land of the Morton Arboretum in Wheaton IL (a 1,300 acre public botanical garden)
Family gardening (perennials and vegetable gardening) played huge importance in childhood; learning from Uncle Ken, Uncle Tom, Uncle Ray, Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Gene, Father Joe and Mother Eileen.
Family gardening (perennials and vegetable gardening) played huge importance in childhood; learning from Uncle Ken, Uncle Tom, Uncle Ray, Grandma Sharon, Grandpa Gene, Father Joe and Mother Eileen.
Last family farm sold
As Chicago’s suburbs continued to expand into the surrounding farming towns, farmland slowly gave way to neighborhoods and development. By the 1970s, much of the Drendel family farmland had been sold, and a new generation was growing up without the desire to take over the farms before them. The land may have changed, but the farming roots never completely left our family.
1970s
Semenza Family Arrival
1894
Rafaelle (Ralph) Sementa (Semenza) born
Rafaelle (Ralph) Sementa (Semenza) born in 1894 in Parta di Principato Ultra, Avellino, Italy.
Semenza Arrival
Rafaelle (Ralph) Sementa (Semenza), great grandfather of Hunter Gentry, comes to the United States in 1912 (Naples Italy to NYC) to Old Forge, Pennsylvania. Grandmother Jennie born in 1925 in PA.
1912
1925
Grandmother Jennie Born
Grandmother Jennie born in 1925 in PA.
Grandmother Jennie passing
Grandmother Jennie taught her Italian cooking until her passing in 2014
2014
Gentry Homestead
2021
Official Foundations
LLC Company started in January of 2021. This marked the official beginning of our journey to turn a family passion into a dedicated farm and food business.
Defining Our Brand
New logo and brand identity in December of 2022. We refreshed our look to better reflect our deep family roots, commitment to quality, and farm-to-table mission.
2022
2023
Obtained Retail Meat Permit
Obtained Retail Meat Permit to sell pork in the state of Tennessee, October of 2023. This allowed us to officially share our farm-raised, humanely tended pork directly with our local community.
Growing Beyond Produce
Obtained a Greenhouse Permit to sell plants, plant starts, house plants in February of 2024. Expanding our growing operation gave us the ability to offer homegrown starts and greenery alongside our farm produce.
2024
2024
Farmers market Launch
In April 2024, our very first farmers market, Farmers on First, brought us face-to-face with the community that supports us every week.
Culinary Pilgrimage
In September 2024, we traveled to Italy, the source, to study traditional techniques firsthand and bring authentic pasta-making heritage back home.
2024
2025
Deepening Our Plant Knowledge
Obtained an herbalism certificate from The Herbal Academy online May of 2025. This training deepened our understanding of plant remedies and enhanced how we blend fresh herbs into our products.
pasta making begins
Obtained a Food Manufacture Permit for making pasta in a commercial kitchen, August of 2025. Securing this permit was the key step that allowed us to scale up our handcrafted pasta production safely and officially.
2025
2025
Retail + Restaurant Debut
By November of 2025 we have our pasta in four retail stores and one restaurant. Reaching store shelves and a local dining room brought our farm-fresh pasta to a whole new audience of food lovers.
Broadening Our Reach
We accepted into our second full time farmers market, Ooltewah Farmers Market, in March of 2026. Joining another weekly market expanded our footprint and connected us with even more neighbors who value local food. We’ve carved out a space in our area for fresh pasta, clean sauces, meatballs, premade meals, and quality farm-raised pork
2026
