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News, stories, and recipes for anyone who loves Italian food, wine, spirits, and travel

Appetito

I am the idea behind and the co-founder of Mama Mancini’s. I am also a home cook, an obsessed entrepreneur, traveler, foodie, and I love sharing all of it with anyone who wants to listen. I believe passion fuels ideas and there is no such thing as a bad idea or too much passion. I look at the picture of my grandmother, Anna Mancini, holding me as a baby and think wow if my grandmother only knew that all those countless days of me learning how to cook by her side in Brooklyn would turn into this. After 25 years in the garment industry, I decided in 2007 it was time for a change. My idea: real meatballs made the authentic Italian way and sold in real sauce. To me there was no other way they should be offered, that was my big idea and Mama Mancini’s was born. The rest is history. So, I say this to everyone who has an idea: never give up; don’t listen to the people who say it won’t work. No idea is a bad idea and always chase your dreams. Let’s cook.

Daniel Mancini

Recipes

How to Make the Mancini Spritz

By training, Chiara Montalto Giannini is an actress and a writer, but she has been cooking since before she can remember. As an actress and a writer, her solo play, A Brooklyn Love Story &#8211; based on the decade she spent living in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn with her grandfather &#8211; was produced Off Broadway at the Cherry Lane Theatre in New York and at Theatre 68 in Los Angeles, where it was directed by Ronnie Marmo. Currently, she is the Director of the Writers Guild Initiative, a non-profit affiliated with the WGAE that shares the tools of writing and creative expression with different communities. She&#8217;s also a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and the Dramatists Guild. At Appetito, Chiara will share recipes from her childhood and those she has learned through her extensive pursuit of Italian food both here and abroad.

Chiara Montalto Giannini

Italian spezzatino made with beef, carrots, potatoes, peas, and onions.

Introducing Babies to Italian Food: Family Recipes for First Meals

Vinny DelGiudice is the creator of <a href="http://alwaysfromscratch.com">Always From Scratch</a>, where he shares approachable, rustic Italian and family-style recipes inspired by tradition and everyday life. With a background in photography and a love for storytelling, Vinny makes cooking feel personal, not performative. Whether he&#8217;s perfecting seafood for weeknight ease or getting sauce on his shirt despite wearing an apron, his content brings heart, humor, and heritage to the kitchen, always with a nod to where it all started: home.

Vinny DelGiudice smiling in his kitchen, wearing a blue shirt and glasses.

Vinny DelGiudice

Golden fried eggplant meatballs simmer in homemade marinara before serving.

Real Italian, Real Fast: Polpette di Melanzane al Sugo

Michele Sessa is an Italian American home chef raised in upstate NY with a flair for creating new recipes. When she was young, her great grandmother would watch her while her parents worked. She only spoke Italian, and they communicated through the magic of cooking. The duo would bake, garden and even take care of the chickens, which developed Michele’s passion for making people happy through her food. All the women in her family fostered the importance of family, faith and healthy food.
Working in the apparel business for over 25 years in NYC and traveling the world for developing fashion lines, her love of different cuisines grew. Of course, Italian food is near and dear to her heart, but she now develops Greek, Asian, Latin and Mexican recipes for her family and for parties.
Now living in Florida with her husband and extended family, she even teaches her friends her innovative takes on Italian classic dishes. Everyone wants and invitation to her Italian Sunday feasts she makes for 8-14 family members, and everyone gets to pick their favorite dinner for their birthday celebration. Her Mother Louise has finally left NY and is living nearby, and they love cooking and baking together, especially for the traditional holiday meals. She learned everything about being a gracious hostess from her mom, and they even catered a large wedding for 65 guests in their backyard when her cousins came to America from Italy to get married!
Michele’s love for her heritage and family continues to drive her knack for entertaining, decorating and cooking. Instagram is another place where she shares her recipes, and she has a great following for her handle <a href="https://www.instagram.com/michele7533/">@michele7533</a>. Make sure to stop by her page for inspiration and her authentic stories through her eyes and her food! Casa Michele’s kitchen is a special place that you can visit through her page!

Michele Sessa

Close-up of homemade yellow squash stew with tomatoes and basil in a white bowl.

How to Make Summer Sunshine Squash Stew

Fresh potatoes, crisp string beans, basil, and red onion come together in this classic Italian summer salad

Italian Potato, String Bean & Onion Salad Recipe

Part reporter, part pasta enthusiast, and always in search of a good story, the Appetito Editors bring readers the latest happenings in food, travel and Italian culture.

Appetito Editors

A rustic bruschetta board topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, burrata, prosciutto, olives, roasted vegetables, and toasted bread

Jessi and Alessio Pasini’s Summer Bruschetta

Hearty Italian Spezzatino for Family Dinner

How to Make Italian Spinach Ditalini

Morgan Hines is a New York City-based contributor for Appetito. She loves learning about and experiencing Italian cuisine and culture. Morgan is a full time reporter at PhocusWire and also contributes to Hotels Above Par, Women&#8217;s Wear Daily, Footwear News, etc. She was previously a full time reporter at USA TODAY and holds degrees from Columbia University and Georgetown University. Follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/morganemhines/">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@morganemhines?lang=en">TikTok</a> at <a>@MorganEmHines. </a>

Morgan Hines

The Pale Rosé Spritz cocktail served over ice beside a bottle of The Pale Rosé.

The Pale Rosé Spritz is a Summer-Forward, Showstopping Sip

Fettuccine with Shrimp. Courtesy of Central Park Boathouse