I was born in Palermo, Sicily, into a family who share and celebrate the art of cooking .
I learned how to cook from my truly inspirational grandmother. The first memory I have about food was observing her and my mother cooking very early on Sunday mornings. Her big kitchen was always full of colourful herbs, the smell of tomatoes sauce, kids running in and out, and her elegant hands preparing fresh pasta. Like every Sicilian, she enjoyed sharing her passion and loved to host family and friends. There was always a very long table on her beautiful terrace surrounded by lemon trees and jasmine, and piled high with amazing food, luscious desserts and very happy people. All our festivities and celebrations took place around that table. I always associate food and cooking with the happiness of my childhood and the atmosphere of those Sunday lunches. In the same way as my grandmother and mother, I believe that sharing food is all about people and that cooking should always be seen as an offering, a gesture of love and care.