My family is from Potenza in the southern Italian region of Basilicata. As a child, I learned the simple world of the farmer and appreciation for the land and its gifts. I helped my family to press olive oil from our orchard and loved to travel around the countryside to discover local gems. My favorite memories are of the many "sagras" ... feasts celebrating a local specialty ranging from aglianico to porchetta to parmigiano reggiano.

I moved to New York in my late teens and immediately started a career in the restaurant industry. I've worked in many NYC kitchens and dining rooms.

I've never had formal training as a chef but I've always been in and around kitchens starting with my mom's.