Here's a wrap-up of the "Winter Braising Series" Appetito offered featuring social media star Joanna Moeller.

The Braising Series with Joanna Moeller of @spaghettiroots_nyc

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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/">@spaghettiroots_nyc </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.

Joanna Moeller

Recipes

Grilled Spicy Swordfish Caponata as a Nod to Sicily

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Lowcountry Bella (Mandi Casey) is Italian by birth and Southern by choice. Moving to eastern North Carolina as a young girl, she was exposed to a whole new type of cuisine like BBQ and hush puppies. As an adult, she embraces both cultures so you never know what she may be cooking up in her kitchen! Currently she lives in both Pawleys Island, South Carolina and Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Her family continues to grow, and that makes her happy because there are more people to feed and love. What&#8217;s better than that?
In addition to creating, cooking and sharing great recipes, she loves to research the history of food origins. Understanding the flavors and ingredients helps her creativity, but more-so, appreciate the meal with even more passion.
Mandi loves to be a guest of events, signing books and donating a portion of her net proceeds to local charities. Her second cookbook, Mangia Y&#8217;all &#8211; Make Everyday Delicious, was released in July 2025.
Please follow her on her website <a href="http://www.lowcountrybella.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.lowcountrybella.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1705416623316000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qLX1Ag56lHqdrjNXYhkQG">www.lowcountrybella.com </a>or on social media: @lowcountrybella on both Instagram and Facebook.
Mangia Y’all!

Mandi Casey of Low Country Bella on a foam green Vespa in a floral skirt.

Lowcountry Bella

Bowl of homemade pistachio pesto with fresh basil and pistachios.

Italian Pistachio Pesto Recipe Inspired by Lake Garda

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<div class="py-[3px] whitespace-pre-wrap u-break-words">Mario Traina is a Sicilian chef, gastronome, and educator based in Catania. A graduate and ambassador of the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo (founded by Slow Food&#8217;s Carlo Petrini), he is the founder of the Comunità Educativa Gastronomica Etnea, Sicily&#8217;s first educational gastronomic community. He works as a private chef across the island, cooking for travelers with a zero-waste philosophy rooted in local ingredients and Sicilian tradition.</div>
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<div class="py-[3px] whitespace-pre-wrap u-break-words">Website: <a title="https://chefmariotraina.com" href="https://chefmariotraina.com/">chefmariotraina.com</a> | Instagram: @chefmariotraina</div>
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Chef Mario Traina in the kitchen with an apron on.

Chef Mario Traina

A traditional bowl of Sicilian tenerumi soup with pasta.

The Taste of a Sicilian Summer with Chef Mario Traina’s Tenerumi Soup

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

Frozen Coco Caffè espresso cocktail served in a tall glass beside a bottle of Galliano Espresso.

Cocktails

Coco Caffè is the Frozen Espresso Cocktail of the Summer

Justin Patulli is a food and travel writer with a lifelong passion for his Italian heritage. From Italy’s most famous cities, landmarks, and dishes to its best-kept secrets, he brings the heart of Italy and its diaspora to life through storytelling. His writing inspires readers to embrace the Italian experience in its entirety. You can find his work on <a title="https://muckrack.com/justin-patulli/portfolio" href="https://muckrack.com/justin-patulli/portfolio">Muck Rack</a> and follow him on <a title="https://www.instagram.com/discover.olive.italy/" href="https://www.instagram.com/discover.olive.italy/">Instagram</a>.

Justin Patulli

Bowl of pesto alla Trapanese made with cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, toasted almonds, basil, and Pecorino cheese

A Taste of Sicily:  Easy Pesto alla Trapanese with Sundried Tomatoes

Paola Marocchi is a NYC-based pastry chef who has worked for some of the world&#8217;s most acclaimed chefs and restaurant groups. Her passion for Italian food was ignited from early childhood, growing up in an Argentinian household of Italian background that valued all things homemade and food as the main guest in any celebration. In her free time, she travels all over Italy mingling with locals and sharing in the culture, food, language and love for all things Italian.
Follow Paola on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/paola_marocchi_/">Instagram.</a>

Paola Marocchi

Almond semifreddo topped with whipped cream, almond brittle, and amarena cherries on a serving platter.

Almond Semifreddo with Whipped Cream and Amarena Cherries

Bowl of homemade fig preserve with a loaf of rustic bread.

Italian Summer Fig Preserve Recipe

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

Appetito

<a href="https://www.sarahhallier.com/">Sarah Hallier</a> is associate editor of Appetito Magazine and co-founder of <a href="https://www.forkboundfoodies.com/">Forkbound Foodies</a>, where she shares exceptional culinary and travel experiences.
She is also a Board Member of Poggioreale in America Inc, a nonprofit committed to preserving the history and cultural heritage of Western Sicilians and their diaspora. Featured in Italy Magazine, The Local IT, la Repubblica, and We the Italians, Sarah enjoys covering everything from cultural identity to the evolving Italian-American food experience.
A California girl at heart, when she’s not crafting food, travel and wellness stories, she’s chasing down the best foodie finds on her travels and sharing them at <a title="https://www.instagram.com/foodiesfromca/" href="https://www.instagram.com/forkboundfoodies/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@forkBOUNDfoodies</a>.  Subscribe to her <a href="https://www.sarahhallier.com/about-1">newsletter</a> to keep up to date on the best places to eat, stay and tour.

Sarah Campise Hallier

Author Erica D'Arcangelo staring at the camera in black and white

Features

Erica D’Arcangelo on the Family History That Inspired A Story About Pizza

I am the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of Appetito magazine. I like Italian food &amp; drink, a lot. I am also an award-winning novelist and a regular contributor to the New York Times. More about my work can be found at <a href="https://andrewcotto.com/">Home &#8211; Andrew Cotto</a>.

Andrew Cotto

Positive Influencer: Chef Stefani Poci

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

Samuel Ghelli

Italian vinegar on a table in the countryside

Per Forza Non si Fa Nemmeno L’aceto: When Italians Say You Can’t Force Things

Isabelle Kellogg’s luxury lifestyle marketing career, along with growing up in Manhattan, gives her a unique perspective on topics like wine, which she enjoys drinking and writing about. Meeting wine makers and attending wine tastings with the wine community helps keep her on top of trends and changes in the wine industry, which is ever-evolving. She was the founding Luxury Editor at Cottages &amp; Gardens magazines, and her articles appear in Upscale Living Magazine, Luxury Facts and The Luxxe Mag. Isabelle is also a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, having co-authored a case study with them on French heritage jeweler Mauboussin.

Isabelle Kellogg

Felice Flatiron's soaring dining room was designed to highlight the restaurant's expansive Italian wine collection. Photo courtesy of SA Hospitality Group

A Look Inside Felice’s Flatiron Take-Over

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

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Entrance courtyard of Grand Hotel La Favorita with vintage Fiat and lemon trees.