The “Singing Italian Chef” returned to his hometown of Crystal City (MO) on Feb. 18 to sign copies of his recently published “Home Party Cookbook.” Silverio “Sil” Pagano was born in 1955, a year after his parents, Ugo and Esterina, immigrated from Italy to Crystal City. His grandfather, Biagio, had settled in Crystal City years before and worked for the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co.

“I was brought up in the Italian culture and language,” he said. “It was my first language.” Silverio said he and his family, which included older brother, Biagio “Bill,” lived with his grandparents most of their lives. Silverio said he learned how to cook from his mother and two grandmothers and was making tagliatelle pasta from scratch by age 6. He said his first job was at Ponza Pizzeria, which his aunt and uncle, Maria and Tony Pagano, owned.