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The three Bergen County residents are the force behind the Eat My Balls food truck which they formally incorporated last August after sitting around Pittari's Elmwood Park kitchen one day talking about how great a cook she is and why, oh why, doesn't she market her Italian specialties. (See earlier Daily Voice story HERE.)
The response to their first season has been fantastic, said Eichman, who now lives in Ramsey, as the three travel the county selling Pittari's authentic homemade Sicilian rice balls.
"People react first to our name and our product.," she said. "Going into this, we knew the name we chose was a bit 'ballsy' -- pun intended -- and there was a chance it may ruffle some feathers, but overall everyone gets a good laugh and has been supportive.
"Our name definitely turns heads and makes people stop in their tracks because they want to know more and see what we're all about."
She said her favorite reactions are the Italian/Sicilian customers who walk up to the window saying "Let's see if this is as good as my wife or my Nonna's rice balls..." or "My family is 'off the boat' so I know a good rice ball when I taste it..."
"Believe it or not most of them come back for seconds or even take orders to go," she said.
Among the most popular items is the "Original" Sicilian rice ball served with mom's homemade sauce. The three are big into mixing up the menu and to that end, have introduced new options like the "Nutella Rice ball" and the "Pizza Rice ball." A healthy alternative ball is in the works, so stay tuned.
The merchandise, more than the food, has been the surprise big seller, added Eichman. With their logo on the back and funny lines on the front like "Don't Break'a My Balls" or "Keep Calm and Eat My Balls," they are selling like hot cakes, so much so that they recently launched an online web store (go to www.shop.eatmyballsnj.com/).
Check out their website (www.eatmyballsnj.com/) for where they'll be next as they traverse the state, from Ramsey, Maywood and Elmwood Park to Pequannock, Meadowlands and even down at the Shore. Two upcoming local events include the Garret Mountain Mud Run in Woodland Park on Sunday, August 7 and the Maywood Summertime Semi-Annual Street Fair on Sunday, August 28.
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