UFC flyweight star Meatball Molly joins forces with best friend and leading local chef Joel McCarthy to open an Italian-inspired kitchen and deli in Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports

A new Italian-inspired kitchen and deli is to open at Liverpool’s Baltic Market.

UFC flyweight star Meatball Molly has joined forces with best friend and leading local chef Joel McCarthy to open Polpetta, which means meatball in Italian. For the last few years Joel has been running his own business, The Macro Chef.

Between the ages of 18 and 22, Molly McCann ran the second busiest subway in the UK. It is when she gained her nickname Meatball Molly. Since then she has established herself as one of the best known names on the Ultimate Fighting Championship scene.

Now she is returning to the food business and she and Joel will launch Polpetta on July 5. They will other traders at Baltic Market, including Hafla Hafla, Press Bros, Midnight Delivery, The Little Furnace, La Bistroteca and Spice Thai

Polpetta will offer an array of dishes including Italian subs, pasta and sides. They will include the must-have Meatball Sub with beef and sausage meatballs, sugo, provolone, pecorino and basil, as well as the Deli Meat Sandwich.

Having wanted to collaborate on a concept for a number of years, Molly, from Norris Green and Joel, 32, from Penny Lane, set their hearts on launching the new venture after sinking a few Guinnesses together.

With Italian cuisine being their favourite type of food, both Molly and Joel love how it brings people together and creates a community feel, reminding them of Liverpool.

Molly and Joel said: “After years of wanting to bring our concept to life, it feels amazing to be launching Polpetta at Baltic Market next month.

“The market is the perfect place to launch our start-up, giving us a platform to showcase our Italian-inspired dishes to the people of Liverpool and beyond who regularly visit the venue.

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“We’ve carefully created the menu at Polpetta to give our guests a true taste of Italy with big, bold flavours. We’re preparing to open at the Baltic Market just like we’re training for a fight… The training is over and we’re ready for the weigh-in and to smash it.”

Oliver Press, co-founder of Baltic Market, added: “We can’t wait to welcome Liverpool’s newest and exciting food start-up Polpetta. The passion from Molly and Joel is inspiring and I can’t wait to bring that high tempo energy from the Octagon to the Baltic Triangle.”