"Mamma Rosa" was born Rosa Piarulli in Corato, Bari, a small town in southern Italy. Following in the Italian tradition, Rosa learned to cook from her mother, Angela.

At the age of 17, Rosa came to New York where she began her career as a food services professional, 13 years of which were at Fordham University supervising the kitchen.

In 1994, Rosa opened Mamma Rosa's Cucina & Salumeria on Allerton Avenue in The Bronx.