Chef Mario LaPosta — owner of Mamma Luca and more — captures the tradition of the Sunday table with Mamma's Sunday Sauce
The acclaimed chef behind da LaPosta and Mamma Luca transforms generations of family recipes into a clean-label jarred sauce inspired by this coveted Sunday ritual
PORTSMOUTH – Chef and Owner Mario LaPosta, known for his neighborhood restaurants Mamma Luca in Portsmouth and da LaPosta in Newton, Mass., is bringing his signature approach to Italian cooking beyond the dining room with the launch of his first retail product, Mamma’s Sunday Sauce, now available at both restaurants and soon online.
Born from generations of family recipes and Sundays spent gathered around the table, Mamma’s Sunday Sauce is more than a classic pomodoro. It is a ritual inspired by the sauce his mother prepared each week. The recipe reflects a simple, soulful approach that has quietly shaped Mario’s cooking throughout his career. Growing up, Sunday sauce was a constant, as his mother cooked each week, passing the tradition down, and creating lasting memories rooted in family and food.
“Sunday was never just a day of the week for my family,” said Chef Mario. “It was everything, from the smell of sauce slowly filling the kitchen to family gathered close, sharing recipes carried forward the way only family knows how. That’s what I’ve spent my entire career trying to recreate for our guests, and Mamma’s Sunday Sauce is my way of bottling that feeling so people can enjoy it at home and carry on their own traditions with their families.”
The idea to bring the sauce to market came naturally over time. After years of seeing the reaction from friends, family, and restaurant guests, and recognizing that nothing quite like it existed on store shelves, Mario, alongside his partners, set out to create a product that would allow people to bring that same experience home.
At its core, the sauce reflects a philosophy of simplicity and intention. Made with just five ingredients, including whole peeled Bianco di Napoli organic California tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, kosher salt, and fresh basil, it stays true to the traditions of cucina povera, where quality ingredients and a thoughtful process are paramount.
“A great sauce starts with a great tomato, but more importantly, it should be simple,” added Chef Mario. “This style of cooking is rooted in tradition. It is slow, it is thoughtful, and the most important ingredient is love. I wanted this sauce to taste like home, like what I grew up with, not what people expect from a typical jarred sauce.”
Each batch is crafted without shortcuts, staying true to the original family recipe that Mario notes was “perfected long before I came along.” The result is a clean-label sauce with no fillers, preservatives, added sugars, or artificial ingredients, just a rich, slow-simmered flavor that reflects generations of tradition.
Mamma’s Sunday Sauce is available exclusively at Mamma Luca and da LaPosta for $10. The sauce is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Additional retail availability will launch online soon. Guests can follow along for updates and more information on the Via Nonna website (https://vianonna.com) and on social media (@mammassundaysauce).
ABOUT MAMMA’S SUNDAY SAUCE
Mamma’s Sunday Sauce is inspired by generations of family recipes and the tradition of gathering around the table on Sunday. Crafted in small batches using time-honored techniques and carefully selected ingredients, each pot is slow simmered for deep, rich flavor. Rooted in tradition, Mamma’s Sunday Sauce brings the warmth of Sunday to any day of the week.
