Many Italian recipes originate from a traditional culture of home cooking, using seasonal ingredients put together with minimal fuss. The daily ritual of visiting the market or picking from your garden for the freshest produce to cook it simply makes food an integral part of living. Growing up in an Italian household in an urban Southern Los Angeles neighborhood, my family converted the yard into a garden to grow our food. I grew up poor but never knew it because we always had fresh food on the table. And the table was where we laughed, talked, and planned the next meal.

Over the years, I lived and traveled throughout several regions in Italy, where I learned to farm, harvest and cook traditional Italian meals. Each experience taught me the important link between food and cultural heritage. Now, I never cook alone in the kitchen. Every recipe links back to a memory of a loved one. I wrote this cookbook to share my love of family and food with you. All the recipes in Mangiamo celebrate fresh ingredients. I harness the flavors of global ingredients and infuse them with my Italian roots to create delicious meals that are always anchored in freshness, seasonality and simplicity. Travel with me as we explore the world of food through recipes and stories. Experiment, be curious, be bold and whatever you do, have fun!