Corry D’Alessandro wasn’t alive in the 1950’s, but she’s still inspired by the decade, which she refers to as a simpler time.
That’s why D’Alessandro, a New Jersey native and owner of a local home-based dessert business called Mother Truckin Eatz, LLC, has given many of her treats 50’s-inspired names, such as June Cleaver and Susie Q. She offers a variety of American and Italian desserts, such as cookies, cakes, and biscotti.
D’Alessandro’s passion for baking can be traced back to her Italian grandmother, who will soon turn 100. Her business logo, which features her grandmother’s image, was inspired by a photo taken with her grandfather during World War II.
“I wanted the logo to be a pin-up girl,” she said.
D’Alessandro launched her business earlier this month, so she hasn’t made many sales yet. But she has given out samples of her baked treats, particularly to people dealing with hard times. D’Alessandro has signed up to be a vendor at this year’s Oliver Hardy Festival, which will be held in Harlem on Saturday, October 1.
In the future, she would also like to become a vendor at local farmers’ markets, such as the Evans and Augusta markets. D’Alessandro has considered launching her own food truck, which led to the development of her business name.
She wanted the name to be catchy and incorporate food trucks. D’Alessandro said she wanted it to sound like something Guy Fieri would announce on the Food Network.
“I wanted a name that would stick and grow the brand eventually,” she said.
Many think Mother Truckin Eatz was inspired by her husband’s job as a truck driver, but D’Alessandro said that’s not the case.
When baking desserts, she focuses more on flavor than perfection. D’Alessandro doesn’t want her desserts to look and taste like they came off an assembly line.
“I want them to taste like a mom made this or a grandma made this,” she said.
Prior to launching her bakery, D’Alessandro worked as a legal assistant in New Jersey for 20 years, until the office where she worked closed due to covid. When she moved to Georgia, she knew she didn’t want another job in that field.
“I didn’t want to be in an office,” D’Alessandro said. “I wanted to do something different.”
Baking has helped her through some major challenges, including a family tragedy and a bout of postpartum depression after giving birth to her son.
“So many women are ashamed,” she said. “You can move on from it.”
D’Alessandro would eventually like to turn a vintage school bus into a mobile bakery. She tries to meet her customers’ demands whenever possible.
“If they’re accommodating to me, I’ll be accommodating to them,” D’Alessandro said.
For more information, visit the Mother Truckin Eatz Facebook page.
