Deli brings a taste of Europe to the coast
Gelato on wheels: Lawence Gambotto and the Mad Dog Moke.
THE man who has cooked for Kerry Packer, perfected silver service aboard a luxury ocean cruiser and supplied top staff for Sydney Opera House events will open a delicatessen and gelato bar in Stanwell Park later this month.
Lawrence Gambotto and his wife Claire will open Mad Dog Deli in the old Parklife cafe where they will offer prosciutto from Italy, ham from Spain, local and imported cheeses, fresh bread, coffee imported from Italy and “the best gelato” on the coast.
“My mates from Italy run Gelatomassi in Newtown which has won the title of best gelato in Sydney for many years,” said Mr Gambotto. “They will supply us to get the ball rolling before we start churning our own on site.”
Flavours will range from Belgian chocolate to hazelnut; from pistachio to blood orange and the fruit flavours will change with the seasons.
And while the Deli will be closed on Sundays, the Mad Dog Moke will travel around Stanwell Park and up to Bald Hill selling gelato from the back flap.
“I had the concept about 10 years ago when I was planning to have a mobile quad bike with a hot dog van on the back to service the beaches,” Mr Gambotto said. “With such an unreal surf culture, it’s got to be off the wall.”
The 44-year-old father of two has been involved in the hospitality industry since he left school, working as a kitchen hand on Dunk Island to serving the indomitable Mr Packer at the Australian Golf Club. He was executive sous chef at the Westbury Hotel and spent six years in Italy broadening his experience outside the kitchen.
“I wanted to cover every aspect of the hospitality industry and the service side was a natural progression,” he said. “The thrill of talking to the customers really attracted me and I love seeing people enjoying themselves.”
While in Italy, an opening came up to work as a waiter on the luxury Seabourn Cruise Line out of Oslo and this is where Mr Gambotto discovered the true definition of five-star service. “It blew me away,” he said. “It was beyond anything I had ever imagined.”
He was promoted to Hotel Manager and was integral to the company’s success, helping to earn Seabourn the title of Best Cruise Line in the World for five years in a row. It was also the first cruise line to achieve a six-star rating.
After returning to Australia with his American wife and children Joshua and Amelia, Mr Gambotto launched a hospitality staffing agency with his brother. Edge Hospitality Solutions, which was wound down earlier this year, supplied wait staff for functions at Parliament House in Sydney, Channel 9, Darling Harbour, the Easter Show, Sydney Olympic Park and – its greatest coup – the Sydney Opera House.
“The Opera House always had two staffing suppliers but it was the first time that they gave their business to one company - us!” Mr Gambotto said.
“We had a partnership with Opera Point Events and became Sydney’s number one staffing agency.”
However the success of the business meant Mr Gambotto wasn’t seeing his family so he and his wife decided on a sea change. A visit to Stanwell Park last July determined their location and an introduction to landlord John Venn led to the business opportunity.
“I’ve had more conversations with good people in the last few weeks in Stanwell Park than I did in five years living in Sydney,” said the chef-cum-entrepreneur. “It’s going to be great fun.”
