I’ve always been interested in food. In fact, when I was eight years old, I planned on growing up to be Julia Child! I watched Julia, Lidia Bastianich, The Galloping Gourmet, and Wok with Yan on PBS – before The Food Network was a thing, and Gordon Ramsey was just another kid playing soccer/football in the UK. I learned a lot from the aforementioned TV personalities and Chefs, but my love of food was cultivated in my family kitchen - side by side with my Mom and Grandmother. Eating the food that we prepared together, from a humble frittata to a five or six course celebration was the best part! With time, I soon learned that the food on the plate, while it satisfied my hunger, the preparation and sharing of food gave me the nourishment that I needed. The smiles, laughter, joy and love that I feel in those moments, is what motivates me to cook everyday for the people I care about! My hope for my students is that they too can experience the warmth of family and friends sharing food made by their hands and hearts. I’m what some people might call a “foodie”. I make my own fresh pasta, I preserve food through canning, I’ve had the pleasure of eating Fois Gras (I didn’t like it), hundreds of types of cheese, and cooked thousands of meals, for friends, family, restaurant guests, and even a Convent of Nuns! The majority of meals I’ve cooked however, were for myself. Not very many of those meals were memorable. The ones that fill me up, are those that I’ve prepared and shared. My ancestry is Italian. Food IS Love. It’s how we show we care. We cook! This is my hope for you, and the Mission of my cooking school: to guide you through the cooking process step by step, to acquire the skills and confidence to prepare delicious food to share with your loved ones. Nourishment doesn’t only come from the food on the plate, but it’s a start!