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Appetito

<p><strong>Mary Welsh</strong> is a Rome-based contributor for <em>Appetito</em>. After earning her BA from Barnard College and becoming a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, she completed her MA in Cultural Heritage at the American University of Rome, where her research focused on women’s roles in sustainable wine marketing and tourism. Today, Mary manages social media for Untold Italy and writes <em>Forks and Corks</em>, her Substack exploring the intersections of food, wine, culture, and travel, along with her own personal reflections. Follow her on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maryuncorked" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/maryuncorked&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1761663283490000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0uCC-qQPiGid71GjDRnUxk">@maryuncorked</a>.</p>


Mary Welsh

Ape Calessino three wheel scooter tour vehicle parked near the Colosseum in Rome

Features

Rome by Vespa: Inside Scooteroma’s Private Tours

<p><strong><b>Samuel Ghelli</b></strong> is an Italian scholar and educator based in New York. He teaches and directs the Italian and Food Studies programs at York College, CUNY.</p>


Samuel Ghelli

Fruit course at an Italian meal with grapes and figs on a rustic table

When the Fruit Arrives: The Italian Way of Saying It’s All Over

Appetito Editors

plated roast lamb with potatoes garlic and rosemary

News

Easter Recipe Roundup & Our EIC on ABC News Live (4/4)

<div><i>Toni Brancatisano was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, one of four children and the younger of twins. Her father, Giuseppe (Joe), was born in Calabria, Italy, to Vincenzo and Concetta, and is one of nine siblings. Like many Italian families seeking new opportunities, they emigrated to Australia in the 1950s, bringing with them the traditions, values, and flavors that would later shape Toni’s culinary path.</i></div>
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<div><i>Toni graduated from The Royal Melbourne School of Nursing in 1993. Two years later, she set off on what was meant to be a six-month working holiday in London. That short adventure quickly turned into a three-year journey when she became nanny to two-year-old triplet girls. When visa restrictions eventually required her to leave the UK, Toni found herself in La Jolla, California, where she spent several months working as a prep chef in a friend’s Italian restaurant — an experience that further sparked her love of cooking.</i></div>
<div><i>In August 1998, Toni arrived in Tuscany intending it to be her final summer abroad. Life, however, had other plans. A Tuscan wedding and two children later, she found herself firmly rooted in Italy. During those early years of motherhood, her passion for baking blossomed. What began with birthday cakes for her children soon grew into a thriving cake-decorating business specializing in cupcakes, celebration cakes, and elegant tiered wedding cakes.</i></div>
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<div><i>Toni stepped into the national spotlight in 2009 when she competed on Italy’s first cooking reality show, La Scuola — Cucina di Classe on the Gambero Rosso Channel (Sky). After twelve weeks of intense culinary challenges, she emerged as the winner, earning her own television show.</i></div>
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<div><i>In 2010, she launched Le Torte di Toni, a cake-decorating series co-starring her daughter Annabella. The pair filmed three seasons together, followed by two additional series titled Le Torte di Toni — Masterclass, where Toni welcomed guest cake decorators in each episode. In 2012, her first book, La Torta Perfetta di Toni, was published by Gribaudo Feltrinelli.</i></div>
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<div><i>After nearly fifteen years in Tuscany, Toni moved to Rome, where she continued sharing her passion for Italian food and culture. She led food tours and cooking classes with Eating Europe, catered events for the Australian and New Zealand embassies, appeared as a guest speaker, and worked as a food stylist for advertising campaigns.</i></div>
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<div><i>In October 2025, Toni’s first Italian cookbook for the American market was published in the United States by Mentoris Publishing, bringing her love of authentic &amp; traditional Italian home cooking to a wider international audience.</i></div>
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<div><i>Today, Toni focuses on leading private food tours in Rome, offering visitors a bespoke and deeply personal experience of the city’s culinary traditions. Working directly with travel consultants around the world, she curates tailored itineraries that connect guests with authentic Roman food, local artisans, and the stories behind Italy’s rich gastronomic heritage.</i></div>


Toni Brancatisano

Recipes

Easter Roast Lamb (Agnello Arrosto) with Pancetta and Potatoes

<p>Hello. My name is Joanna Moeller, and I am a passionate home cook residing in downtown Manhattan for 20+ years. I started my Instagram cooking page <a href="https://www.instagram.com/spaghettiroots_nyc/"><u>@spaghettiroots_nyc </u></a>in April, 2023, as a way to showcase my cooking, as I initially intended for it to be more of an inspirational cooking page featuring my &#8220;No recipe, recipes.&#8221; It has truly been a wonderfully creative outlet for me.</p>


Joanna Moeller

A slice of Pizza Rustica from Joanna Moeller.

How to Make a “Rustic” Easter Pie

Appetito Partners with Renaissance Minds on “The Art of Balance”

<div dir="ltr">Planted, harvested and aged in NY, Li Valentine has a background in education and marketing, with a passion for travel and all things wine. With roots in the boot, she has a special interest in Italian wine and travel. She is a certified wine professional and Italian Wine Specialist. In addition to writing about wine (<a href="http://discover.thewininghour.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://discover.thewininghour.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1697217195025000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2tvR1J02Hhj2IanKTun4fa">discover.thewininghour.com</a>), she is the founder of The Wining Hour, Inc., which includes a wine boutique that caters to the wine lover, as well as the vinous winechat (#WiningHourChat) on X (formerly Twitter).</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Follow Li on all social at @thewininghour.</div>


Li Valentine

Vette Sauvignon Blanc from Tenuta San Leonardo, a crisp white from Trentino.

Vette from Tenuta San Leonardo: A Mountain-Fresh Sip of Spring

<div>Marianna Cuomo Maier is a National Board Certified Health &amp; Wellness Coach and the founder of <a href="http://www.gratawellness.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.gratawellness.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728582454046000&amp;usg=AOvVaw14YIpYbUloji2A2RHNVR0X">Grata Wellness</a>, where she empowers individuals to take charge of their health and cultivate joy through personalized coaching and engaging group sessions. Known for her holistic approach, Marianna leads transformative wellness workshops, events, and corporate wellness programs, utilizing an inside-out approach to foster growth and connection.</div>
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<p>Additionally, she is the founder of the Emerging Leaders Council of <a href="https://italianlanguagefoundation.org/web/?doing_wp_cron=1700083117.0815899372100830078125" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://italianlanguagefoundation.org/web/?doing_wp_cron%3D1700083117.0815899372100830078125&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728582454046000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2FeA-IVf0wN2W3zmaUJHKj">The Italian Language Foundation</a> (ILF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting Italian language and culture. Marianna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Yale University and a Master’s in Teaching from National Louis University.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/gratawellness/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.instagram.com/gratawellness/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728582454046000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0-p1BOSwGT2LwCBFQH-Smv">Join Marianna on Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.gratawellness.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gratawellness.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728582454046000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3zJZn6DlYCdpYaedSJ9zYw">sign up for the Grata Wellness newsletter</a> for tips and inspiration. For personalized guidance, please email <a href="mailto:marianna@gratawellness.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marianna@gratawellness.com</a> or <a href="https://www.gratawellness.com/booking-calendar/complimentary-30-minute-consultation?referral=service_list_widget" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.gratawellness.com/booking-calendar/complimentary-30-minute-consultation?referral%3Dservice_list_widget&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1728582454046000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2pt-oFccDs6dDP44HSDO3D">book a coaching consultation</a> to begin your wellness journey today.</p>
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Marianna Cuomo Maier

Founder Maya Ayed standing behind a display of Alya Health olive oil shots at an event

Alya Health Brings Olive Oil Shots to Daily Wellness

Bob Wilms, Board President of Refettorio Harlem, (center right) addressing Silvia Baldini on stage with all the contributing chefs of the Harlem Loves Italian Food event.

Harlem Loves Italian Food at Refettorio Harlem

Chef Michele and Qiana at Via! by Sale Pepe, holding hands at an outdoor table

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