I have to be honest with you -- when Sue reached out and said she wanted to come back on Beyond the Plate, I was genuinely excited. Not just because I love catching up with guests, but because Sue is one of those people where you just KNOW there's more to the story. And I was right.

Sue Pappalardo is the owner of Aunty's Italian Kitchen, an Italian food truck based in Salem, NH. She was on the show back in Episode 19 when the truck was brand new and the season was just getting started. A year later she came back to the studio at the Beacon -- and wow. The update did not disappoint.

The first thing I wanted to know was what year two actually feels like. And Sue said something that I wrote down immediately: this is the first time in her life that she's had a job that doesn't feel like a job.

I know that feeling. After almost 40 years with the Red Arrow, I still wake up and want to be there. And hearing Sue describe it -- the events, the team, the customers, the food -- you could feel it. This is someone who found her thing.

She also mentioned something that stuck with me. She turned 65 last year -- the same year she launched the truck. While her friends were talking about retirement, Sue was booking events and learning how to cryovac. I love that SO much.

Okay. This was the moment of the episode for me.

Back in Episode 19, Sue talked about her dream of eventually jarring and selling her dad's sauce. The slow-simmered Sicilian recipe he made every Sunday. She called it a "winter project."

Well -- she did experiment with it over the winter. She made batches. And then a friend had an idea: put a meatball in the jar. Don't advertise it. Just let people find it when they open the sauce.

I said -- and I meant it -- I WANT ONE OF THOSE JARS. Who doesn't love finding a meatball in the sauce? It's the best surprise. She hasn't started selling them yet, but when she does, I will be first in line.

## The Italian Ladies Lodge Approved Her Eggplant Parm

Sue's first event of year two was cooking for the Ladies Lodge in Lawrence -- a group of Italian women who, as Sue put it, can cook. Most of them ordered the eggplant parm. Why? Because eggplant is a lot of work to make at home. And they loved it.

Getting that approval from a room full of Italian women is the highest possible bar. She cleared it. The eggplant parm is now a permanent staple on the menu -- not a special anymore.

## What's New on the Menu

Sue has been listening to her customers, and the menu shows it. New for year two: rice balls (arancini) with mozzarella inside, chicken cutlet tenders for kids, and the meat pie -- which she calls "sketcha" -- is now a permanent staple after selling out all day at the Feast of St. Alfio.

She's also hollowing out sub rolls for the meatball sandwiches -- cut the tip off, pull out the inside, fill it up. Easy to hold, easy to walk around with. That is such a smart food truck move.

## The Team, The Family, The Whole Thing

One of the best moments of the episode was Sue talking about her crew. Husband Paul -- quiet at home, Mr. Social Life at the truck. Her brother outside taking orders, making people laugh. Nephew Domenic working inside. Nephew Luca on supply runs and with the customers.

And Luca's line about the Italian ladies? "They're just like you, auntie." That says everything.

## Go Find Aunty's Italian Kitchen

Sue is heading into a big year two -- VFW in North Andover on May 1st, Salem car show every first Saturday through October, the Feast of St. Alfio all three days this year.

Find the full schedule, the menu, and booking info at auntysitaliankitchen.com. Follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok at Aunty's Italian Kitchen.

And if you haven't heard Episode 19 -- go back and start there. This episode is the update. That one is the origin story.

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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON

Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.

This article is brought to you by Red Arrow Diner -- 4 locations across New Hampshire, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua. Come find us anytime hunger hits.
Red Arrow Diner -- 4 NH locations, open 24/7 | redarrowdiner.com
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