Much like Nan’s living room, pasta sauce hasn’t changed much since the 80s. It’s the same old flavours and all wrapped up with stories about the old country. The category needed shaking up. So that’s precisely what Grga Calic and Lachy Philp decided to do.
Here’s Calic with everything you need to know.
How many nonnas have you had to apologise to so far?
Countless.
Are there any nonnas that like your pasta sauce?
We can’t confirm or deny that.
Give us the elevator pitch, what makes your pasta sauce special?
Sorry Nonna is a modern pasta sauce with a bit of an edge. Nonna’s recipe, spiced up with unique flavours. We’re putting a twist on the classic and coming up with a few new takes of our own.
Who are you and what are you all about?
We both work in a creative industry. Grga is an advertising creative, and Lachy co-runs a design studio (shout out Weekdays Studio). We always wanted to team up on a project together. What started as a joke and mutual love of food, ended up as a pasta sauce start-up.
You’ve got some interesting flavours going on. What are people buying most?
Honestly, it’s a fairly even split. The gochujang arrabbiata has been around longer and is pretty hard to beat. But the limoncello marinara is so unique and refreshing for a pasta sauce, it is creeping up as a favourite.
Explain like we’re five: how do you make it?
Our flavours are unique and pushing the category. We use nothing but real fresh produce, high quality EVOO and cook our sauce in small batches to stay true to nonna’s recipe. And we’re having fun with it.
What excites you about Sorry Nonna?
Seeing people respond to the sauce, understanding and embracing our flavours is definitely the best part. It’s good to see we’re not the only ones bored with pasta. Also, we love making content – we have a gang of nonnas now that love getting in front of the camera. So we’re excited to see what we can come up with for them to do next.
Basically, we’re excited to make jar sauce great again. Can we say that?
What are the perfect conditions to enjoy Sorry Nonna?
Honestly, do what you want. Pasta is what you make of it. No matter what the flavour, pasta will always be something nostalgic and charming and should be enjoyed however you want – there shouldn’t be any rules. Eat it for dinner by candle light with the love of your life, eat it on the couch watching Parts Unknown with your situationship, eat it on a Sunday afternoon with your nan, make a spag bol for the kids, take it to a dinner party, enjoy it the the bathtub, have it on pizza in a church listing to Slayer.
Just enjoy it, don’t over think it.
Is this here for a good time or a long time?
We’re here for both! The game needs us. We have some fun stuff in the works. New flavour, wild collabs and plenty more schemes to give your nonna a heart attack.
Where can I buy it?
We’ve been lucky to be stocked in some incredible stores. There are too many favourites to name but some of our early and most supportive stockists have been Spring Street Grocer, ST. ALi, Brunswick IGA, Herbert’s Corner Store, The Hub General Store and more. Honestly, we’re really proud to be on the shelves of all our stockists.
For more, head to sorrynonna.com and follow along at @sorry_nonna.