Cannoli the new craze
Whoopie pies, cupcakes, cake pops, macarons - they've all had their time in the sun, but get ready for a sexy, and often overlooked, import to steal the spotlight - the humble cannolo (singular for cannoli).
Business partners, Salvatore Pizzata and Giovanni Mammone know their cannoli inside out and they're keen to share the love.
Travelling through Italy and America last year, Mr Pizzata spotted smartly branded cannoli carts dotted around many big cities. They were positively booming, and the quality on offer was excellent.
Franchised under the name of Only Cannoli, Mr Pizzata has secured exclusive rights to the imported Sicilian carts in Australia, and the pair opened their first franchise at the Innaloo Westfield Shopping Centre just under a month ago.
"We make the cannoli fresh daily from our kitchen in Canning Vale. Giovanni's wife Angela and my wife Natalie make them together.
"They are passionate about producing the perfect cannolo - they are the cannoli gurus," said Mr Pizzata, whose other interests have included gourmet Italian delicatessens and fruit and vegetable outlets around Perth.
"The pastry shells are based on traditional family recipes, which include marsala and cinnamon. The pastry is then hand-rolled and fried to perfection.
"The custard is made with free-range eggs. It's the consistency of the custard that we really want to maintain and we change the flavours weekly."
Fillings range from traditional Sicilian ricotta cream to custard flavours such as vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, hazelnut, tiramisu, mint choc chip and caramel.
"Cannoli, like any food, is art. We just want to make the best cannoli we can," Mr Mammone said.
"It's only a matter of time before the cannoli craze hits Perth," Mr Pizzata added.
"We've already got a strong following within the community and we're looking forward to introducing our cannoli to a greater Perth audience."
Only Cannoli also offers a catering and wholesale service and makes cannoli to order for special events. For information visit the cart at Innaloo Westfield Shopping Centre, phone 0477547421 or go to facebook.com/onlycannoli.
Source: The West Australian, 29 August 2013
