By Marco Shalma

Before Fried Lasagna Mama became a fixture at some of the biggest markets in NYC, it began with a clear intention. When she was accepted into Johnson & Wales University for Culinary Arts, she already knew the plan: build her own food business, no shortcuts, no gimmicks. After graduating, she moved through the grind every independent chef faces—testing, failing, adjusting, and staying committed to creating something no one else in the city was offering.

That breakthrough arrived in 2017. She stumbled across a YouTube video of two women reviewing Olive Garden’s fried lasagna appetizer. She had never seen lasagna fried before, but curiosity pushed her straight into experimentation. She refined the idea, added her own spin, created new flavors, and shared them with everyone around her. The response made one thing clear: she had a hit.

She built a website, posted on Instagram, and started delivering orders by bike and train every weekend. No team. No investors. Just a chef carrying trays through the city because the dish deserved momentum. When Chef Lynnette from Perfect Bites tried it and told her to apply for The Bronx Night Market, everything shifted. That opportunity opened the door to Brooklyn Night Market, Uptown Night Market, Famous Food Festival, Sweet Auburn Food Festival, and New Jersey Food Fest.

At the core of her cooking is love, passed down from her grandmother, a restaurateur in the 60s who taught her the importance of care in every plate.

For first-time customers, “The Original” remains the must-order. It mirrors classic lasagna, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, noodles, meat sauce, fried until crisp and golden. The crowd reactions say it all: surprise, joy, and people literally dancing after the first bite.

Fried Lasagna Mama isn’t a novelty. It’s a trained chef redefining comfort food and giving NYC something it never had.