"My parents, who enjoyed traveling, decided one summer when I was twelve, that we would embark on a PanAm luxury trip to Italy. Our first stop was Rome where my Mom had lots of cousins. The late night dinners and the artisanal food on beautiful handmade plates felt at once familiar and exotic to me. Like home and adventure. I was hooked! From early on, I knew that food, family & friends were going to be a big part of my life and I would enjoy every minute of it."