Daniela Useli joined the ranks of Baltimore's family-owned Italian restaurants in 2011 when she opened tiny Daniela Pasta & Pastries in the heart of Hampden. She brought a Sardinian twist to town, adding her own touches to pasta dishes such as ravioli and lasagna, and to sweet treats like tiramisu and sugar-sprinkled palmier cookies — recipes she learned from her grandmother and great-grandmother.

Useli, a native Sardinian who came to Baltimore in 2000, outgrew the original space where customers ordered at a counter, so she moved the restaurant a couple of blocks down The Avenue. She opened a larger trattoria in April with a cozy porch for outdoor dining, a liquor license and her signature chef statue welcoming guests.

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Source: http://www.baltimoresun.com/