Skip to Content
Advertisement
Features

An Ode to Our Nonnas

A regular column at Appetito will feature the recipes from the Nonnas of our respective contributors.

10:04 AM EST on November 14, 2023

Rossella Rago and her Nonna Ninette Romano.

Rossella Rago and her Nonna Ninette Romano.

We at Appetito were thrilled with our wide-ranging, entertaining and insightful interview with food diva Rossella Rago. We were also inspired by her mission to champion grandmothers everywhere, to give them the recognition they deserve, in many respects, but particularly by showcasing the value their cooking has in our lives (even in the cases where they are no longer with us).

With this type of tribute in mind, we decided to dedicate a new column to the recipes of the respective nonnas of Appetito contributors and readers (see below for submission instructions). First up is our Editor-in-Chief, Andrew Cotto, who shares this recipe from his maternal grandmother, Phyllis Maccarrone, for her Veal Spiedini.

Editor's Note: If you would like to submit your own "Ode to Nonna" please provide the following to: andrew@appetitomagazine.com.

  1. A brief (1-3 paragraph) introduction to your nonna.
  2. A related recipe with precise ingredient measurements and instructions.
  3. Two hi-res (minimum 1020 pixels wide) horizontal photos (one featuring your nonna, and one of the finished dish).

Submissions are not a guarantee of publication.

More Stories

Pasta Wednesday Week 2: Cheese Tortellini with Pancetta and Peas

Joanna Moeller continues her weekly October pasta celebration with a creamy tortellini recipe perfect for midweek.

October 20, 2026

Let’s Bring Back the Spoon for Eating Our Spaghetti

Our Editor-in-Chief advocates for the return of the spoon to twirl our spaghetti or any long pasta noodle.

October 20, 2026

At Audace, Neapolitan Pizza Takes Center Stage

Slow-fermented dough and Italian ingredients make this Manhattan restaurant worth a visit.

October 20, 2026

The Place My Grandmother Never Got to See

Jennifer Sontag moved to Sicily and found echoes of the family life she had known in St. Louis.

October 20, 2026

Mangia, Mangia!: When “Eat, Eat” Stops Being About Food

In America, a familiar Italian expression invites you to enjoy a meal. In Italy, it can also accuse people of taking too much.

October 19, 2026

Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti on Food, Family and Entertainment

Appetito interviews Sal "The Voice" Valentinetti on the influence of Italian cuisine and tradition on his work as an entertainer.

October 19, 2026