Mad Mamma is the new Cork ‘deli on wheels’ you’ll want to track down
A new food truck is coming this autumn – and you’ll have to chase it to find out what’s cooking.
Chef Vanessa Carnieri is launching Mad Mamma, a little red deli-on-wheels, with porchetta, taquitos, crispy potatoes and plenty of Italian-inspired comfort food on the menu in September, with Midleton as its main base.
For Vanessa, the location is a particularly personal choice.
“The first time I came into Midleton, walked through the main street and stopped by the farmers market on Saturday morning, I knew it was where I would like to call home,” she said.
Vanessa was born in Brazil into an Italian family and says food has always been a huge part of her life. She started cooking at just nine years old, later studying Culinary Arts in Brazil and spending six months working at D.O.M., the two-Michelin-starred restaurant in São Paulo.
ruzphotos.com
She eventually moved to Dublin at 20 and worked in fine dining before spending five years as Executive Head Chef at Mardyke Entertainment Complex here on Leeside.
But over time, she realised that fine dining wasn’t quite where her heart was.
“I wanted to feed people’s souls, recreate the feeling of Sunday lunch at my grandmother’s house, make every meal feel good, and share the comfort and self-care that cooking brings me,” she told Yay Cork.
And that idea of food as an act of love is at the heart of Mad Mamma.
“I believe that is how Mad Mamma was born: madly passionate about food, with a mamma’s love, care and attention.”
And the food sounds seriously good.
One of the best things about Mad Mamma is that there won’t be a fixed food truck menu. Instead, you’ll have to chase the Mamma Mobile to find out what’s cooking that day.
View this post on Instagram
Vanessa has, however, given us a sneak peek at some of the dishes we can expect.
There’s OINKOINK, a porchetta sandwich made with thin, crisp slices of porchetta, rocket, parmesan, chilli oil and smoked aioli. Then there’s CIGAR, deep-fried taquitos filled with pulled beef, cheese and spicy pico de gallo.
SNACK brings crispy potatoes together with chorizo, aioli, tomato sauce and scallions. And for anyone with a sweet tooth, there’s CRAQUETTE — choux pastry filled with chocolate fudge and hazelnut.
Honestly, we’re already hungry.
The emporium side of the business will also stock a selection of ready-to-go favourites, including Mad hot sauce, infused olive oils, miso butter and Mamma’s cream cheese, as well as themed hampers and products from local producers.
A very Cork launch
While the truck itself isn’t expected to open until later in September, Vanessa will be making a few appearances around Midleton before then.
She’ll be speaking with Kate Ryan of Flavour.ie at FEAST at Midleton Distillery on September 5th, before serving up some treats at the Main Street Market on Sunday, September 6th.
As for the name?
Vanessa says she has two sides to her personality — “the good and the crazy”.
“I’m bubbly, loud, all smiles and bad jokes!” she said.
“But everyone who gets to know me says I’m like a big mamma, who likes to care for people and my way to show love is by feeding, filling up bellies around the world.”
