Mamma Italia Ristorante in Sturbridge puts authentic Italian cooking first
Husband and wife team Marco and Kathy Baldieri opened the new restaurant Mamma Italia in Sturbridge last summer, successfully combining the passions and experiences of Marco Baldieri, an executive chef who for more than 40 years has stayed true to traditional Italian (home-style) cooking.
Mamma Italia Ristorante, 139 Main St. #2, occupies plaza space that formerly housed Rom’s Takeout. The restaurant, named after Baldieri’s late mother (Italia) is open Tuesday through Saturday, with lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner, 5 to 9 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday. Takeout, no delivery. Visit https://mammaitalia.co; Telephone: (774) 241-0478. Connect on Facebook.
The BYOB restaurant with open kitchen seats 30 indoors and an additional 30 on the seasonal outside patio. Indoors, dining area walls are covered with celebrities who have visited the chef’s restaurants, with most of the pictures featuring A-listers posing with Baldieri. The chef has cooked for many famous people, but he said his favorite was Chevy Chase, American comedian, actor and writer, who he described as a “fun, likeable guy.” Earlier in his career, Baldieri was executive chef at a California restaurant owned by Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine.
The chef boasts an impressive resume and lets his deep Italian roots influence his menus in restaurants he has owned in Europe and throughout the United States. He gives his mother credit for inspiring him to cook and said his interest in the culinary arts was strongly influenced by both his parents. His father also was a restaurateur. The family left Rome in the late '70s, settling in Los Angeles. One of seven siblings, Baldieri has a sister who is chef/owner of a Beverly Hills restaurant.
“First and foremost, I am a chef who loves to cook,” said Baldieri, who admits to having weathered some dramatic years during his career. Through the pandemic, he owned a restaurant and was able to keep the kitchen going, preparing meals for takeout. “The culture and economics of the business have changed a lot since then,” he said.
When the Baldieri’s sold their last business in the Midwest, they headed to Boston to visit their daughter and family. At the time, they looked into the possibility of opening a restaurant in the Boston area. Instead, they ended up buying a home in Southbridge and discovered the Sturbridge space through a realtor. “We drove around the Worcester area and really liked the feel of this town (Sturbridge) and decided to stay,” said Baldieri. “The kitchen and dining space are manageable and customers like the seasonal patio. Sometimes customers will sit on the patio with a glass of wine while waiting for an inside table. We’re happy and consider it a good move owning a business here. Some customers even speak to me in Italian.”
Kathy Baldieri, originally from the Midwest, worked in the corporate world before she married her husband. At Mamma Italia, she manages the front of the house and handles reservations for private parties and catered events. Baldieri knows that being married to a chef is no guarantee that meals are going to appear on the kitchen table at home. “Kathy rules the kitchen at home,” said her husband, who admits he rarely cooks at home. “I cook all day in the restaurant and need a break when I get home,” said Baldieri.
What makes Mamma Italia different from other Italian restaurants?
According to Baldieri, authentic Italian cooking is about simplicity and maximizing natural flavors. The chef uses herbs and spices minimally so not to overpower main ingredients. His fresh red sauce is a popular recipe made with just a few ingredients, he said. “People tell me there’s something different about my food,” said Baldieri. “I think it’s because it’s Italian, not Italian-Americanized food.” A restaurant reviewer wrote about one of Baldieri’s out-of-state restaurants, “The food is divine, period.”
Mamma Italia has different menus for lunch and dinner. The chef also adds weekly specials. At lunch, there are sandwiches, soups, salads and entrees, such as eggplant and chicken parmesan, chicken marsala, chicken Milanese, pasta dishes and more. Dinner, its antipasti, soups, salads, pasta, chicken and veal options and pasta. Baldieri makes gnocchi at the restaurant. His two desserts are cannoli with house-made filling and tiramisu.
Baldieri said his parmigiana recipes are a big hit and he’s surprised at how much chicken parmigiana he goes through in a week. “It’s unbelievable,” he said. “And, amazing.” The chicken “parm” melts in your mouth, said Baldieri. For some people, chicken or veal parmigiana are their introduction to Italian cuisine, he said.
On Mother’s Day, May 12, Mamma Italia will be open from 1 to 7 p.m., with reservations highly recommended. The regular menu will be offered in addition to specials, such as a bone-in veal chop.
Down the road, Baldieri would like to offer cooking classes at the restaurant. “It’s fun and I’ve done it before,” he said. The owners plan to attend the 2024 Summer Fancy Food Show scheduled for June in New York City and look forward to learning about new products from Italy. The couple said they haven’t had much free time to get to a lot of area restaurants. They have taken a look at Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street businesses and recently ate at One Eleven Chop House. Baldieri said the couple enjoyed good food and service at the Chop House, and he especially liked that the restaurant was family-owned. “Everyone has different opinions when it comes to independent restaurants and corporate owned,” said Baldieri. “Steak houses are kind of my thing.”
At Mamma Italia Ristorante, owners take pride in their work, bringing a true taste of Italy to the table. Positive restaurant atmosphere.
Maker to Main founder to be honored
Lynn Cheney, founder of Worcester’s Maker to Main, will be honored at the Massachusetts Farm Resiliency Fundraiser on May 9 at BirchTree Bread Company, 138 Green St., Worcester.
A $50 donation to Massachusetts Farm Resiliency includes event registration and valet parking. Arrival is 5 p.m., with a “welcome cocktail.” Reception begins at 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar. Visit https://allevents.in for tickets.
In January, Cheney announced she would permanently close the farm-to-table grocery store Maker to Main on Harding Street in Worcester. She cited foot traffic and debt as reasons for closure. Maker on Main Street first opened in 2020 on Main Street in Worcester, with Cheney bringing local farm products to consumers. Maker to Main moved to Harding Street in September 2023.
Cheney was founder/owner of Lettuce Be Local food hub in Sterling, with a mission to “Education, Aggregate and Transport (EAT) food from local farms to restaurants, caterers, schools, breweries and farm stands throughout the year. She initially was co-owner of Lettuce Be Local, founded in 2012 in Holden.
Featured partners at the fundraiser include George’s Coney Island in Worcester and BirchTree Bread Company. Chef partners: Alina Eisenhauer, former executive pastry chef/owner of Sweet Worcester; B.T.’s Smokehouse in Sturbridge and B.T.’s Fried Chicken and BBQ in Worcester; Damian Evangelous, Timberyard Brewing Company in East Brookfield; Eric Marvin, The Barn Princeton; Ryan Boya, Wild Hare Restaurant & Brewery in Hudson; deadhorse hill in Worcester; Volturno Pizza Napoletana in Worcester.
Reserve early!
Nurses Pub Crawl!
The Shrewsbury Street Nurses Pub Crawl in Worcester is scheduled for May 11, an annual celebration of Worcester County nurses.
Tickets, $20 per person, can be purchased on Worcester Pulse Magazine’s Facebook page. Pulse Magazine is among event presenters. Participating restaurants and bars along Shrewsbury Street will offer food and drink samples, beginning at 2 p.m. at Redemption Rock Brewing Company, 333 Shrewsbury St. At that time, guests will receive a beer ticket to use at a specified location, in addition to a Nurses Pub Crawl gift.
Particpants: Vintage Grille, 346 Shrewsbury St.; Flying Rhino, 278 Shrewsbury St.; Funky Murphys Bar & Grill, 305 Shrewsbury St.; Mexicali Mexican Grill, 225 Shrewsbury St.; Basil and Spice Thai Cuisine, 299 Shrewsbury St.; La Scala Ristorante, 183 Shrewsbury St.; Wormtown Brewery, 72 Shrewsbury St.; Leo’s Ristorante, 11 Leo Turo Way; Ralph’s Tavern, 117 Shrewsbury St.; Pepe’s Italian Restaurant, 179 Shrewsbury St.; 4th & 1 Sports Club, 7 Muskeego St.
Presenters include Wormtown Brewing Company, Cantiani Insurance Agency and Carr Financial Group.
Mother's Day at Piccolo’s
Piccolo’s, 157 Shrewsbury St., will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. Mother’s Day, May 12.
It’s been a long-standing policy that the restaurant is closed on Sunday, according to owner John Piccolo, who said Mother’s Day is an exception.
For reservations, call (508) 754-1057. The restaurant’s executive chef has planned creative menu ideas to make Mother’s Day special, according to Piccolo.
If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Table Hoppin': Mamma Italia Ristorante making a splash in Sturbridge
