Her story

I grew up in Bloomfield, New Jersey during the 70s and 80s, in a two-family home filled with the love and traditions of my immigrant grandparents from Italy. From a young age, I was surrounded by the aromas of simmering sauces, fresh garlic, and homemade bread. My grandmother and my mother were my first teachers in the kitchen, showing me how to create simple, comforting Italian meals with nothing more than fresh ingredients and a lot of love.

My cooking style is old-school, simple Italian, the kind of food that proves it doesn't have to be complicated to be delicious. Over the years, I've carried these recipes with me, preserving not only the flavors but also the memories and stories behind them. What makes my cooking unique is that many of the recipes I use today were never written down. They were passed to me through tradition and memory and I've recreated them in my own style to bring them back to life.

Now, as the proud mom of two beautiful girls, I hope to pass these recipes down to them so they can carry on our family's traditions and feel the same joy that comes from gathering around the table. Old-school cooking is often pushed aside for more modern, complicated flavors, but I've always loved seeing someone taste my food and be amazed by how simple and delicious it really is. My signature dish, Eggplant Parmigiana, is a perfect example. With just a few ingredients and my straightforward technique, it's the dish everyone requests at family parties and the one that always has people coming back for more.

This cookbook is my way of sharing these treasured family recipes with you, so you too can bring the warmth, simplicity, and love of our Italian kitchen into your own home.