We may not be able to travel to Italy at the moment but we can be transported there by the aromas of Parma every Friday in Maroochydore.
Delightfully authentic, freshly made pizza and pasta will soon become a mainstay of the new Maroochydore CBD with popular food truck Parma Street Food set to operate at The MET every Friday from 11am until 2pm.
Husband and wife team Simon and Francesca Grassani moved to the Sunshine Coast in 2012 from their home town of Parma in Italy’s north and, after working for a number of local restaurants and cafes, they established Parma Street Food in 2017.
Simon said cooking traditional Italian food was in his blood and his hometown of Parma was renowned for its world-famous prosciutto di Parma (ham) and parmigiano reggiano (parmesan cheese).
“As a child, I grew up at my Nonna’s side, helping her make a range of traditional Italian dishes including pasta, gnocchi, sauces, pizza and desserts and this inspired me to become a chef,” Simon said.
“After I completed chef school, I worked in a number of bars, cafes and restaurants including a famous pizza bar owned by the Italian soccer star Carlo Ancelotti.
“We made up to 700 pizzas per night. It was crazy but I loved it.
“Francesca then decided to move to Australia and enrolled in an English course at the Lexus English school in Maroochydore, so I followed her and that’s when we decided to make Australia our permanent home.”
Simon said the Parma Street Food truck had gained a strong reputation as a go-to option for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations because of its commitment to producing the finest traditional and contemporary Italian dishes.
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/scnews2020/
“If you want classic Italian food, then Parma Street Food is for you,” he said.
“Every dish is made in house with love and care – just the way my dear Nonna taught me.
“I’ve also managed to refine my recipes when I attended cooking school and then when I worked in restaurants and cafes, both in Italy and Australia.”
Simon said a great selection of pasta, gnocchi, pizza and sweets such as tiramisu, as well as weekly specials, would be on offer from his food truck at The MET.
“We are really excited about this new location in The MET,” he said.
“We’ve had the van located at the Urban Garden near the courthouse in Maroochydore every Thursday for the past two-and-a-half years and we’ve built a really good trade there.
“I am hopeful we can do the same at The MET, especially with so many tradespeople on site as well as all the staff working in the Foundation Place building as well as nearby businesses.”
Like stories about Sunshine Coast people doing great things? Help us deliver more by registering for our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
SunCentral City activation project manager Bronwyn Adams said The MET had enjoyed a strong following since the opening of the Colombian Coffee Co earlier this year.
“We have now locked in Vietnomnom every Wednesday while Parma Street Food will be on site every Friday,” she said.
“These two new additions add significantly to the food offer now available to the vast number of tradies on site as well as those people already working in the Foundation Place building, along with people living and working in close proximity to the new Maroochydore CBD.
“The MET venue lends itself as a place where people can grab a quick bite to eat and head back to work or chill out on the lawn while they enjoy their lunch break while tucking in to some of the finest food truck offering on the Sunshine Coast as well as the best coffee, toasted sandwiches and treats from the Colombian Coffee Co.”
