Italian Roots, Hemp Gummies and the Company Bringing La Dolce Vita to Cannabis
Episode Summary
Julie and Jamie welcome their first ever guest on the Florida Living Life Podcast and they picked a great one. Simone D’Antonio, co-founder of Mamma Mia, grew up cooking in his grandmother’s kitchen in Salerno, Italy, trained at the prestigious Gualtiero Marchesi Chef School, worked nine years in Los Angeles restaurants, and then stumbled into the cannabis industry through a next door neighbor and a dispensary visit that made him say — I can do this better.
From communion wafers infused with hemp to aperitivo inspired gummies named after Italian cities, Mamma Mia is a one of a kind brand where culinary storytelling meets the wellness industry.
👨🍳 Meet Simone D’Antonio
Born and raised in Salerno, Italy. Trained at the Gualtiero Marchesi Chef School in northern Italy, one of the most prestigious culinary programs in the country. Moved to Los Angeles in 2014. Spent nine years working in restaurants as a chef before pivoting to bartending while building Mamma Mia on the side. Co-founded the company with his neighbor Casey Passero, a second generation Italian American who introduced him to the cannabis space.
🍬 About Mamma Mia
A direct to consumer hemp edibles brand built around a culinary tour of Italy. Every product is named after an Italian city, inspired by a regional recipe, and designed with packaging that captures the visual identity of that city and era.
Current products and pricing:
- Gummies — $32 for three gummies. Flavors include kiwi bellini, orange spritz, and camomile bitter, all inspired by the Milano aperitivo culture of the 1990s
- Infused Communion Wafers (Roma) — $33. A nod to Vatican City and the Church, served in a package that is exactly what it sounds like
- Chocolate — $43. Higher price point due to ingredient costs and manufacturing complexity
Products are manufactured by a women owned facility in downtown Los Angeles using Simone’s recipes, ingredients, and packaging.
Products range from five to ten milligrams. Start low. Go slow. Everyone who has had a bad edible experience made the same mistake.
🌿 The Education Corner
Simone breaks it down clearly. Edibles are not the same as smoking. They enter through digestion, kick in slower, last longer, and feel different. Cannabis has real anti inflammatory benefits. Some strains support sleep. CBD and CBN are non psychoactive options for people who want the wellness benefits without the high. The industry is still young and education is everything.
🚀 What is Coming Next
A possible Friuli Venezia Giulia inspired product. Infused butter for pasta. An inhalable product inspired by the air of the Dolomites. And a taste test from Julie and Jamie of the sample box Simone sent to Florida. Tune in.
📣 We Want to Hear From You
Visit floridalivinglife.com to send a message. If you are a brand, a chef, or a business owner with a story worth telling, reach out. Julie and Jamie want to hear it.
WAYS TO WORK WITH US
- Brand sponsorships and content placement
- Featured guest podcast interviews
- Scenes From the Table live recordings
- Food and lifestyle brand features
- Virtual and on location options available
📞 Call or Text: 973-281-6896
📧 julie@julieriga.com
📌 Episode Hashtags
#FloridaLivingLife #MammaMia #SimoneDAntonio #HempEdibles #ItalianFood #FloridaFood #FoodPodcast #WellnessLifestyle #PalmBeachCounty #SouthFloridaEats
