Montville-native Rossella Rago of "Cooking with Nonna" fame is making moves in the food industry.

The latest was an exclusive cooking demo Saturday at Mario Batali's Eataly in New York City, a spot where only the elite can turn up the heat. Rago and her grandmother Nonna Romana presented a traditional Pugliese menu in a program called "Primavera in Puglia."

It is the younger Rago's philosophy that great food begins with grandma, or nonna.

"It's a beautiful place, a one of a kind place, very popular now in New York City," said Vito Rago, executive producer of "Cooking with Nonna" and Rossella's dad. "Maybe before the Empire State Building and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, people have to go to this beautiful market."

The Ragos also Rossella's mom, Angela Rago — competeted and won the Food Network's "24 Hour Restaurant Battle — Battle Italiano" in 2010.

The Web series Cooking with Nonna (CookingWithNonna.com) joined forces in September with faculty and graduate students from Georgian Court University's Holistic Health Studies program to provide additional health and nutrition content for the show.

"('Cooking with Nonna') is doing great," said Vito Rago. "It's very popular with a large following all over the United States. Not only on the East Coast but California and everywhere because Rossella goes out and does different events in different cities at different Italian festivals."

Rossella Rago is scheduled to attend the second annual Wellness Expo on the campus of Georgian Court in Lakewood 11 a.m. April 6. Attendees will learn about holistic health practices and how environmental, physical and mental stress can affect one's health.

Call 732-987-2663 for more information.

by Chris Jordan / APP.com