This is one in a series looking at how immigrants and children of immigrants have settled in Northeast Ohio and brought their native dishes and cooking styles with them. Loretta Paganini’s original career path was to be an elementary school teacher.

However, getting married and moving to the United States led her in a different direction. In 1989, the Bologna, Italy, native opened The Loretta Paganini School of Cooking in Chester Township, bringing culinary education to hundreds of recreational students.