Being born into a loving Sicilian-Louisiana family, nurtured within the heart of New Orleans’ multicultural mélange of fabulous food, music, art and celebrations, gave me a perspective that I now acknowledge as truly extraordinary!

Earliest memories are sensuous–fresh-baked schicciata, earthy pan bread pressed to perfection by loving hands, pungent tastes of cuccidati, fig-filled pastries seasoned with honey, zest of Plaquamine Parish oranges with the subtle Arabesque bite of black pepper, or, awakening to the sizzling smells of salsiccia, anise-flavored Italian sausage made fresh for grocery sales and home use, all accompanied in background with piano roll Jazz.