Loosen your belt

Why Naughty Nonna’s is Cornwall’s most deliciously defiant caterer.

Let me set the scene. Picture this:
I’m in the middle of nowhere, well, Bodmin to be precise, staying at Cabilla for a Cornish Sea Salt retreat. As someone who takes eating very seriously (and I mean very seriously), I was having my usual pre-remote-location panic attack. You know the one: When’s dinner? What’s for dinner? Will there be enough dinner? Then I walked into the dining venue.

The smell hit me first, that glorious, stop-you-in-your-tracks aroma that makes your stomach do a little flip. But it was the sight that properly knocked me sideways: HUGE sharing platters. And when I say huge, I’m talking the kind of spreads that make you question whether you’ve accidentally wandered into an Italian grandmother’s fever dream. This was Naughty Nonna’s in action, and spoiler alert, it was potentially one of the best large-scale catered meals I’ve ever demolished.

Meet the Nonna (she’s lovely, honest). Behind this glorious food assault is Jade, who runs Naughty Nonna’s with her wing-woman Meg as a proudly female-led operation. Their mission? “Unapologetic, belly-filling feasts with bold flavours, huge portions and experiences that make people laugh, loosen their belts and eat with pure joy.” The name practically writes its own origin story. “My mates nicknamed me ‘Nonna’ because of the way I feed people – generous, comforting and unapologetically indulgent food,” Jade explains. “The ‘Naughty’ part? Well… I’m just incredibly naughty, filthy and I like my food even filthier.” I mean, what’s not to love?

In a world drowning in deconstructed dishes and pretentious small plates (you know, the ones where you need a magnifying glass to find your meal), Jade has carved out a refreshingly rebellious niche. Don’t get me wrong, some people adore that culinary restraint. But for me? Food should be fun, abundant and leave absolutely zero doubt that everyone’s leaving full and happy. Enter Naughty Nonna’s tablescapes: think mountains of gorgeous food that somehow manage to be both indulgent and beautifully styled. We’re talking herb-stuffed whole-baked sea bass, slow-roasted Persian lamb legs, mounds of seasonal arancini, fish pies that could feed a small village, handmade wild mushroom ravioli, grain salads and pavlovas the size of small children. (Yes, really.)

However, this isn’t just about shoving food on plates and calling it a day. Jade’s background in editorial photography means everything looks almost too good to eat. Almost. Her team specialises in creating immersive tablescapes and food styling for events, shoots, and campaigns; basically, if you can dream it, they can make it both gorgeous and utterly gorge-able. “It’s about bringing community back to food,” Jade says, and you can taste that philosophy in every dish. Taking full advantage of Cornwall’s incredible seasonal produce (because why wouldn’t you with some of Britain’s best ingredients on your doorstep?), Naughty Nonna’s creates experiences that engage all your senses. From the visual feast to the glorious smells to that first outrageously satisfying bite, it’s food as theatre, minus
the pretension.

Based in Newquay, Naughty Nonna’s does it all: weddings, events, recipe development, private catering… you name it. But here’s the catch: when I chatted with Jade, she was already taking bookings for 2027. Yes, you read that right. So here’s my advice: find an excuse, any excuse, to book them. Birthday? Anniversary? Tuesday? All valid reasons. If you can’t manufacture your own event, get yourself to one of their supper clubs (dates are on their website) or catch them at Porthleven Food Festival. And between you and me? There’s talk of us collaborating on a supper club next winter. Watch this space, your belts won’t know what hit them. Check out Naughty Nonna’s on social media for a glimpse of their bold, playful and gloriously unapologetic creations. Trust me, your stomach will thank you.

LAGOM CHEF
LagomChef
www.lagomchef.com
naughtynonnas
www.naughty-nonnas.com