I grew up in New York in a family of great cooks, where food was at the center of every gathering and, as a child, I learned early on that cooking is a beautiful way to express love. My grandma Angelina ran the corner Italian luncheonette, in a tightly knit neighborhood in the Bronx. She always had a huge pot of "Gravy" simmering behind the counter. As I watched her taking care of her customers and her family, a passion for good food took root in my heart.