My Story

With two Italian nonnas and an Italian mamma, it was inevitable that I would inherit the family treasure: a love of la cucina.

A smiling woman in a black top and white apron standing in a kitchen behind a cutting board with grapes and sliced cheese, with utensils and kitchen items in the background.

For most of my career, I built and ran my own financial advisory business, work that taught me to listen carefully, solve problems creatively, and understand what mattered most to people. I didn't know it then, but those same instincts would eventually shape my work in the kitchen.

THE FIRST ACT

THE TURN

When an autoimmune diagnosis meant eliminating gluten, I was determined not to lose the Italian culinary traditions that had always been part of my life. I began seeking gluten-free ingredients to meet my dietary needs without compromise.

What began as a personal journey eventually led to Senza Glutine, and opened an unexpected door to my second act - passion with a purpose.

STILL LEARNING

My curiosity about Italian regional cooking continues to deepen through specialized gluten-free Italian education at the the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF), return trips to Italy — exploring regional traditions, documenting family recipes, and learning the simple techniques behind them.

A woman in a white chef's coat smiling in a commercial kitchen with stainless steel counters and kitchen equipment.

Two women standing together in a kitchen, smiling, behind a large steel cooking pot with a bottle of ketchup on top.

A woman giving a presentation to a seated audience in a bookstore or community space. Behind her are bookshelves and a colorful sign with the words 'Unite', 'Celebrate', 'Enrich', and 'Empower'. A large screen displays a slide with the title 'The Process' and information about recipes and adaptations. The audience is paying attention, and some are wearing casual clothing.

My earliest lessons in the kitchen came from my paternal grandmother, who taught me to prepare the dishes of her native Campania. Later, spending time in Puglia with my cousins, keepers of the family’s culinary traditions, introduced me to the cooking of the region, some dishes familiar, others completely new to me.

But it was at home, under my mother’s guidance, that cooking became part of the rhythm of everyday life. She prepared a homemade dinner for our family every night, without fail, and our kitchen was always a place of comfort and connection. I didn’t realize it then, but she was teaching me something that has stayed with me ever since: cooking is about much more than the food on the plate. It’s about taking the time to care for the people you love.

That belief is at the heart of what I do today. When gluten can make sharing a meal feel complicated or even isolating, I want to make it easier for everyone to gather, eat well, and enjoy the same food together. It’s why my mission is simple: bringing everyone back to the table.

Two women are standing in a kitchen, smiling. The older woman on the left is wearing glasses, a white blouse with black polka dots, and a blue apron. She is holding a small plate with a slice of pizza. The younger woman on the right has dark hair and is wearing a pink shirt with a dark apron. They appear to be enjoying a moment together in a warm, homey kitchen environment.

Three women standing together indoors, dressed in floral and patterned dresses, smiling at the camera.

Three women standing in a kitchen, smiling, with the woman in the center holding a bowl and serving food, surrounded by kitchen utensils and colorful tile walls.

THE TABLE

“Growing up, the dinner table was a nightly ritual, a place to gather, share the events of the day, and stay connected. I carried that tradition into my own family, and now I see my adult children carrying it forward.”

A young boy wearing a brown shirt, blue jeans, and an apron rolls out dough on a black kitchen countertop with a rolling pin nearby.

Three people smiling and posing for a photo in front of a window with a view of a city skyline. The man in the middle has gray hair and a beard, wearing a light blue button-up shirt, and sunglasses hanging around his neck. The woman on the right has dark hair, wearing a black sleeveless top and leopard print pants, holding a glass of white wine. The man on the left has dark hair and a beard, wearing a blue polo shirt.

Three women in a kitchen cooking together, smiling, with a large pot of what appears to be chili or stew on the stove.