Are you in the mood for authentic Italian food tonight and do not have time to prepare dishes from scratch? Or you want to impress your guests with good Italian food? No, you do not have to fly to Little Italy in New York or Italy for it; you just need to stop by Mama Lou’s next to the post office in Lake Mary.

Mama Lou’s carries a wonderful array of mostly imported products from balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, Italian spice, to prosciutto di Parma, and a variety of cheeses (including Stravecchio Parmesan that you can special-order.) The cases are filled with scrumptious meats including Citterio Sopressata and Italian sausage.

Owner of Mama Lou’s are Biagio and Maureen Larocca. Most people will call Biagio by his nickname Tony. Tony was born in the south of France. Both his parents were Italian. So naturally Italian cuisine is something Tony has known for all his life and is very passionate about it. Not only that, Tony has also managed several restaurants.

“Most of my experience was in Italian and French cuisine,” says Tony. “I managed five-star restaurants, mostly in hotels. I owned my own restaurant in Connecticut that received terrific reviews in the New York Times.”

Tony sold his restaurant in 2000, when he and his wife Maureen decided to move to Florida. “We were both getting tired of the cold,” remembers Tony. “We moved to Lake Mary because of the school district.” The couple has three children, Alex, 19, who attends University of Connecticut, and two boys who go to Lake Mary Elementary School – Dylan, 11, and Kevin, 8.

“The word delicatessen means a lot of things to a lot of people,” says Tony. “We want this deli to be a little family deli, where everything is Italian. I want this place to have everything that a big city deli has; but it should be with a small town feel. People should feel comfortable walking in here. If we don’t have what you want, we’ll get it for you.”
One major difference of Mama Lou’s from other places in town is that Mama Lou’s offers various prepared Italian dishes. These include but not limited to eggplant parmigiana, chicken parmigiana, meat or cheese ravioli… If you want to try something unique, Tony can make made-to-order dishes for you. Just give Mam Lou’s a call and then Tony will prepare everything for you, all you have to do at home is heat it up and serve. Bon Appetite!

Mama Lou’s also does catering. Trays of meat balls, ravioli, cannelloni, lasagna, and antipasto are available at moderate prices. Tony also takes pride in his specialized dishes, such as braciola (veal or beef rolled around a filling). So whether you have just a romantic dinner for two at home or a big gathering, Tony will make sure the food for the evening is perfect.

Besides having excellent authentic Italian food, both Maureen and Tony also have genuine hearts. Having lived in Lake Mary for eight years, they have a strong sense of community. Recently Mama Lou’s sponsored a fund-raiser for Seminole County’s abused children. During one business day, 15 percent of all Mama Lou’s sales were donated to the cause. The event was a success because of the wonderful food that Tony offers.

Stop by Mama Lou’s or visit them at Lake Mary Farmer’s Market and Lake Eola Farmer’s Market. Maureen and Tony will show you an array of delicious authentic Italian varieties. I have to tell you this; Mama Lou’s Cannoli is mmm...out of this world…

Community Keys Staff