{"id":68051,"date":"2024-12-02T16:53:54","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T16:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=68051"},"modified":"2024-12-02T22:33:39","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T22:33:39","slug":"my-friends-called-me-crazy-italian-chef-talks-about-his-successful-street-food-stall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2024\/12\/02\/my-friends-called-me-crazy-italian-chef-talks-about-his-successful-street-food-stall\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;My friends called me crazy&#8217;: Italian chef talks about his successful food stall"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Street food chef Franco Scarpetta shares his journey from living on a farm in southern Italy to opening his stall in Cardiff Market<br><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"750\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up.jpg\" alt=\"Franco, smiles, standing in front of his Italian Streed Food stall.\" class=\"wp-image-68053\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1400x700.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up.jpg\" alt=\"Franco, smiles, standing in front of his Italian Streed Food stall.\" class=\"wp-image-68053\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/franco-close-up-1400x700.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scarpetta greets guests with his bright smile and Italian humour, often chatting to those passing by. Image: Wiktoria Jazwinska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When you enter Cardiff Market, it&#8217;s hard to miss Franco Street Food, with its sunshine-yellow exterior and the owner, Franco Scarpetta, cheerfully rolling and filling dough while singing in Italian and chatting with those passing by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scarpetta, 46, moved from Apulia in southern Italy to Wales in 1997. After many hospitality jobs and a stint as a football coach in the USA, he found his passion in celebrating his heritage through cooking street food using his nonna&#8217;s recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A year has passed since he opened <a href=\"https:\/\/www.francostreetfood.menu\/ourdough\">Franco Street Food<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cardiffmarket1891\/?hl=en\">Cardiff Market<\/a>, serving authentic Apulian deep-fried dough pockets (panzerotto) stuffed with fresh mozzarella and tomato.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The people of Cardiff seem to be drawn in by the golden crescents on display, Scarpetta&#8217;s affectionate laugh, and his ability to make any customer or passer-by smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the journey hasn\u2019t been easy for him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Early life in Italy<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Scarpetta&#8217;s passion for food, like for many Italians, began in his grandmother\u2019s kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I used to live on a farm, I would help my grandparents on the land all summer from a young age,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe had a three-wheeler and a little dog that would sit on the back. We would drive it to the market square and sell the produce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said he cooked for the first time when he was six years old\u2013 a peculiar mix of fried onions, hotdog sausages and pasta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then in 1997, he visited his uncle in Abergavenny to learn English, but he fell in love with south Wales and stayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7d4fba2340efa51b69b73b41f32c129f\" style=\"color:#ea6100\">Click below to listen to Franco Scarpetta talk about his passion for quality ingredients and family recipes <\/h5>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1949083019&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1949083019&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><div style=\"font-size: 10px;color: #cccccc;overflow: hidden;font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/cardiffjomec\" title=\"CardiffJomec\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc;text-decoration: none\" rel=\"noopener\">CardiffJomec<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/cardiffjomec\/italian-street-food-chef-discusses-authenticity-in-food\" title=\"Italian street food chef discusses authenticity in food\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc;text-decoration: none\" rel=\"noopener\">Italian street food chef discusses authenticity in food<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Sometimes I get emotional because it connects me with the past and my grandparents<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>To the States and back<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Football has always been a big part of Scarpetta&#8217;s life. When the team he played for in Abergavenny suggested he should complete his coaching badge, he said he couldn\u2019t refuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2011, he was offered coaching positions at the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newyorkredbulls.com\"> New York Red Bulls<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagofirefc.com\"> Chicago Fire,<\/a> so he uprooted his life to the USA to pursue his passion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three weeks later, Scarpetta received an unexpected phone call \u2013 his ex-partner was pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cShe was here, and I was in America, and she told me if I didn\u2019t come back, she doesn\u2019t want the child. So, I came back to Wales in November 2011,&#8221; he said emotionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Franco kneads his sourdough in his street food stall.\n \" class=\"wp-image-68055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Franco kneads his sourdough in his street food stall.\n \" class=\"wp-image-68055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/CardiffCharacter_WiktorilaJ_Establishingshot.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Scarpetta feeds his sourdough daily then forms each foccacia and pocket by hand. Image: Wiktoria Jazwinska<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Taste of Apulia in Cardiff<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>He returned to working in the hospitality industry in Wales but lost his job during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and opened Franco Street Food in 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy friends called me crazy for opening a place serving panzerotto, nobody knows what it is!\u201d he laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It wasn&#8217;t easy at the start, but the feedback has been amazing, he added. \u201cPeople come back and say thank you, and I say thank you back because without the customers, I wouldn&#8217;t be here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> After losing his job, he first set up a kiosk in Cardiff Bay, followed by a food truck in Roath Park, where he served his crisp, cheesy parcels to those who couldn&#8217;t resist the smell of fresh dough on their daily walks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It has been a year since Scarpetta opened Franco Streed Food in <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2023\/12\/04\/cardiff-market-renovations-how-do-the-traders-really-feel\/\">Cardiff Market<\/a>. He sells out on most days and makes time to stop and chat with his many returning customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSometimes I get emotional because it connects me with the past and my grandparents,\u201d he said smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Quality ingredients are at the heart of what Scarpetta does. He imports ancient bio-organic flour called Senatore Cappelli from Apulia and uses only extra virgin olive oil grown on his family farm in Castellaneta, southern Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe ingredients I have, I\u2019m very proud of. I want to make it the same way it is made in Puglia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:51% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC.jpg\" alt=\"Panzarotto, is an Italian deep-fried street food, filled with mozzarella and spicy sausage.\" class=\"wp-image-69482 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-770x963.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-614x768.jpg 614w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-293x366.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC.jpg\" alt=\"Panzarotto, is an Italian deep-fried street food, filled with mozzarella and spicy sausage.\" class=\"wp-image-69482 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-770x963.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-614x768.jpg 614w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/12\/Panzarotto_WiktoriaJ_CC-293x366.jpg 293w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading has-white-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-77dc6b3fd6d061530b0700420afe1789\" style=\"font-size:18px\">The elements of a panzerotto<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a7e61a2757fee52769969d77be90428e\" style=\"color:#ea6100;font-size:15px\">The dough is made from Senatore Cappelli wheat, a bio-organic ancient flour that Scarpetta imports from Apulia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ca9d6a5eca21f09ecc7ebccf6b8165aa\" style=\"color:#ea6100;font-size:15px\">He feeds his sourdough daily, which is cold-fermented for at least 48 hours, developing the flavour and texture of the golden parcels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-53c1405b59c4206fbf63f694183b43b7\" style=\"color:#ea6100;font-size:15px\">Once fermented, each panzerotto is shaped by hand and then filled to the brim with fresh mozzarella, San Marzano tomato sauce and delicious additional ingredients such as spicy Nduja sausage, mushrooms or caramelised onions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Street food chef Franco Scarpetta shares his journey from living on a farm in southern Italy to opening his stall in Cardiff Market<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1193,"featured_media":68053,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7935],"tags":[1085,22,8184,8183,6759,8127,8128,6550,8118,45,2037],"coauthors":[8071],"class_list":["post-68051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-work-life","tag-cardiff-market","tag-food-2","tag-food-market","tag-fried-food","tag-italian-culture","tag-italian-heritage","tag-italian-street-food","tag-italy","tag-panzerotti","tag-pizza","tag-street-food"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>&#039;My friends called me crazy&#039;: Italian chef on success and heritage<\/title>\n<meta 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