Equal Parts Hospitality is known for outstanding cuisine and ambience at their Hamilton area restaurants, The French, The Diplomat, Aberdeen Tavern, and Knollwood Golf Club. And now, in the midst of navigating a COVID-19 world, they are blazing new territory as they create a truly moveable feast with their new takeaway only venture, Mamma Rossa Italian Kitchen.
As Equal Parts co-founder Jason Cassis explains, Mamma Rossa, which has been in operation for a month and a half, can be described as a “ghost kitchen” or “virtual kitchen.” The restaurant operates out of the kitchen at the Aberdeen Tavern, and the cuisine is available there for takeaway, or delivery exclusively through UberEats.
Community response has been positive and hosting Mamma Rossa in a bricks and mortar restaurant in the future is not out of the question. But for now Cassis is comfortable offering the cuisine as takeout and delivery only and is eager to share why.
“Why launch a ghost kitchen? Because it’s a natural hedge in case our restaurants get closed again. If the government closes us down we can delivery fresh and interesting food to the public. It’s also very exciting for our employees to launch this during a pandemic. We are doing the opposite of giving up and are taking the bull by the horns and running with it. We have to think out of the box right now,” explains Cassis.
The concept behind Mamma Rossa is steeped in comfort and nostalgia with the goal to present a food experience that is similar to an old school red sauce Italian joint from the 70s and 80s. “We are offering the type of food we grew up with and wanted to create something that could be less expensive than our other restaurants and served family style. We felt it was a niche we could fill,” explains Cassis.
Hamilton has many Italian restaurants and I was eager to sample the Mamma Rossa menu which features rustic, and simply prepared dishes by Chef Bryson Batchelor. What sets Mamma Rossa apart from the other Italian restaurants in town? “It is value based, and the ingredients are exceptional. Dishes are all from scratch, there are some hard pastas but the rest are made in-house,” states Cassis.
I stopped by the Aberdeen Tavern recently with my partner and two friends to sample Mamma Rossa’s offerings to discover if this new Equal Parts venture is destined to become our new go-to for memorable Italian fare.
Time to check out the menu!
Mamma Rossa’s compact menu features four appetizers, six mains and two desserts. I ordered the Calamari Fritti ($13.50) to start; my friend Kathi ordered the Caesar Alla Zio ($10.75) and my partner Glen, and friend Mike tried the Insalata Mamma Rossa ($11.00). At our server Dan’s suggestion we also ordered Garlic Bread ($6.75) for the table. All of the appetizers were generously proportioned and perfect to share family style.
My Calamari Fritti featured calamari that was beautifully prepared, avoiding the rubbery tough texture that occurs when overcooked. A light, golden batter covered the calamari and a flavourful marinara sauce and lemon wedges complemented the dish.
The Caesar Alla Zio was created with romaine, croutons, parmesan and double smoked bacon and Kathi enjoyed its tangy dressing, which was used sparingly. It is clear that fresh, quality ingredients are used in the preparation of all of the dishes at Mamma Rossa.
A work of art on a plate describes the Insalata Mamma Rossa. The salad was beautifully displayed with mixed greens, red onions, chickpeas, olives, pepperoncini, salami, tomato, cucumber, a light sprinkling of feta, and topped with a sherry vinaigrette. With so many ingredients the dish could pass for an antipasto. Glen was impressed with the colourful mix of ingredients and the mix of crunchy and soft textures, and Mike enjoyed the presentation and fresh ingredients.
We all devoured the plate of Garlic Bread, crafted using baguette, garlic butter, parmesan and mozzarella cheeses. Light, crispy, browned on the edges, with an abundance of cheese, the garlic bread melted in our mouths.
Delightful choice of mains
The edge was certainly off our hunger as we now plunged into our entrees! Kathi and I both sampled the Shrimp Tagliatelle ($18.75), Glen ordered the Spaghetti and Meatballs ($16.75), and Mike enjoyed the Spicy Rigatoni Vodka ($15.75). The other mains on the menu include: Spaghetti Alfredo ($16.50); Momma’s 3 Cheese Lasagna ($18.25), and Pappardelle Bolognese ($17.50).
The Shrimp Tagliatelle consisted of savoury, tender morsels of shrimp, bathed in white wine and topped with Calabrian chili and chives. The dish had a nice heat but wasn’t overwhelming and was cooked to al dente perfection.
One of Cassis’ favourite dishes on the menu is the Spaghetti and Meatballs and for comfort food at its best it did not disappoint. The dish consisted of five large meatballs made from beef, veal and pork and was covered in a marinara sauce. Glen found the dish to be savoury perfection.
The Spicy Rigatoni Vodka lived up to its name with a delicious heat created by tomato, cream, Calabrian chili and parmesan. It didn’t take long for Mike to devour the dish!
Don’t miss the desserts!
Desserts are crucial to the dining experience and of course we had to share an order of Cannoli ($12 for 4), and Tiramisu ($12).
Both desserts didn’t disappoint, with everyone enjoying the firm cannoli which were stuffed with a pistachio cream filling, and drizzled with chocolate sauce. The Tiramisu featured a melt-in-your-mouth custard, the requisite lady fingers, and espresso.
My guests agreed that Mamma Rossa provides outstanding quality for the price point, and they are looking forward to a future culinary experience from the restaurant that will be delivered to their door!
Mamma Rossa Italian Kitchen
Order through UberEats for delivery or takeaway at The Aberdeen Tavern, 432 Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton
Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday 4 pm. – 10 pm.