In November last year, Hamish Vaccari started selling family recipe Italian subs out the back of an unassuming house on Nicholson Street. It went viral. Nonna’s House was the obvious choice of name for the venture, given it is, in fact, his Nonna's house. Having lost his job at the start of Covid, Hamish was thinking about his next move and when his Nonna passed away at the impressive age of 98 late last year, it came to him. He'd make and sell the food he grew up with; the food he discovered at his Nonno and Nonna's house. And Melbourne can't get enough of it. Anyone who has had one of these subs, describes it by closing their eyes and kinda sighing, as though they have already forgotten they were telling you about it and are already planning their next visit. But get onto it, it's first in, best dressed and these babies go quickly. Hamish, his dad and his uncle sell out every weekend. I went around during the week and I have to say, it was one of the most hilarious chats I have ever had. When I arrived, I could hear the stereo up pretty loud and Hamish didn't hear the doorbell. I overthought it, went down the side of the house, saw him through the window in the kitchen, felt awkward, went back to the front door and sent a message to say I was there. When he opened the door, I was looking out at the street and got the biggest and very audible fright. I went in, met Hamish's beautiful two-year-old Bassett hound, Chef and Hamish and I sat down to chat. Chef was pretty keen on attention, so Hamish put him outside. The chat was then punctuated by the thump of Chef throwing himself at the door to get our attention. He came back in and joined in the conversation before going into the kitchen and wreaking some sort of havoc in there. But you know, I really liked all that because it's Nonna's House after all and you get what's going.
