Marisa Lambert, a first-generation Italian American, was raised in a close-knit New York neighborhood where Italian was her first language and family meant everything. Surrounded by her grandparents, home-cooked meals, and life in her parents’ clothing store, she grew up immersed in love, tradition, and food.
Her childhood was full of rituals—Sunday dinners at her maternal grandparents’ home featured homemade wine, pasta, and bread from scratch. Her paternal grandmother prepared daily hot lunches for anyone working at the store, followed by a pot of espresso at 3 p.m. At home, her mom cooked every night—except Fridays (always pizza) and Mondays (Chinese takeout). These routines shaped her deep appreciation for family and the power of shared meals.
Now a lawyer, Marisa lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children, and their dog, continuing to honor her heritage through food. She blends her Italian roots with her husband’s traditions, passing them on, one homemade meal at a time.
Follow her culinary journey on Instagram:
@cookinglikenonna.
