why a food blog?
I married two days before my mother died and I moved to Usa two months later.
It was 2015.
No working permit and the Green Card application took three years.
I had a lot of time. So, I cooked a lot.
I needed to heal, and to recover from the tear of a loss. Needed to silent the burning pain that absence brings with itself. I felt desperately alone, I was angry and sad, so I used the tools my Mamma gave to me: love, hope, food – repeat.
Food not intended as a compensatory way to fill that never-ending hole of pain, but as a way to recall all those beautiful moments we shared together around a table, to celebrate every single good news, or achievement or just a good day. In the background noises of pans, dishes, a small radio always on and at some point Mamma yelling:“A tavola ragazzi!”.
On a bad day, you know, one of those days you want to call her and you still have her call on your phone and you realize the contact named MAMMA! will never pop up on your phone screen EVER… that day I decided to make pizza. Not anyone. HER pizza recipe, that one she used to knead and bake every Saturday and bragged you could even choose the toppings from her handwritten menu decorated with a pics of pizzas she cut out of magazines.
I made that pizza, I gave a bite and BOOM! I was home, we were eating pizza, Mamma, Papà, mia sorella Carmen and zia Lavinia, and they were laughing themselves sick because I made my infamous mimicking of my obnoxious Math’s teacher.
It felt good.
You should also know that not a single recipe has ever been written down. You had to remember them like an Ave Maria, or to make it harder, cook by eye. So when I lost my Mamma I lost all my culinary heritage. Until I was determined to recreate each of those dishes and they had to taste exactly the same of her.
Needless to say that my ADHD brain hyper focused on the task, my powerful taste and olfactory memory did the rest. I accomplished the mission. Without writing down any recipe but just taking notes everywhere and getting crazy all the time.
Until I decided to write a food blog.
No recipe will get lost ever again.
Me, Dani.
I worked in fashion for a company publicly funded that supports (update: has closed) young designers whose President is Silvia Fendi.
I have a degree in Law, that is great and come in hand in a lot of situations, but I hated studying Law, I wanted to be a graphic designer/architect/ fashion stylist.
After graduation, I decided to turn my life into what I really wanted to do, so I got a Master in Fashion Marketing and Communication at the European Institute of Design (IED) in Rome.
I am from Rome but I grew up in a small town on the beach (almost).
After some years spent in fashion with a lot of passion and a no-good salary or future prospects, I started working for an event/food design company where I was in charge of luxury events and creativity.
After some years spent there, where I learned and worked a lot, I moved to Brussels, to join Matteo, my husband now.
And another one bites the dust.
Interesting facts about me
I have a nickname – Decio – only who knows me very very well and since a very loong time calls me Decio.
I am an advanced online shopper
a Yellow addicted
and Emerald green admirer
Currently obsessed with maritozzi, meringues ricotta watermelon
Long-time obsessed with Achille Castiglioni, Ward Bennet, Luigi Ghirri, Marcio Kogan
I listen to Liberato (an Italian singer from Naples) twice a day, with meals. Update: I don’t do it anymore.
But I also obsessively listen to Noyz Narcos, Carl Brave, Mambo Italiano (Dean Martin version of course), and Tu vuò fa l’americano (Sophia Loren singing in English is amazing).
While making boring stuff like washing and cleaning vegetables – capare in Italiano – I really enjoy Si Non Sedes Is. The hardcore band my econometric husband, my charming brother in law and the other three super handsome guys used to play when in Rome.
My aforementioned adored husband, Matteo is an economist and a hardcore drummer
Still looking for the perfect shade of red lipstick (if you have suggestions, please write to me!!!) this was before pandemic.
Still desperately looking for the vintage Emmanuelle peacock wick chair of my dreams.
My Uber score is 4.93 (update: now is 4.94)
Stupidly gifted with a great memory for totally useless information (Update: I discovered I have ADHD and this is a super power)
In love with baroque pearls.
I married in a vintage orange organza dress and a flower crown
Love texting/ hate talking on the phone. sorry (Update: ADHD related)
Can’t stop buying earrings and t-shirts (Update: ADHD related too)
I always wear Gazelle (Adidas).( Update: if you could gently drop the trend of wearing Gazelle as I can’t find it anymore, thanks)
Speaking Italian, French, English and some Spanish curse words I learned watching Narcos
Currently watching Smilf Big Little Lies 2 Stranger Things 3 Pose 2 Snowfall, the Handmaid’s Tale , Obession Season Finale (deceiving), The White Lotus 1 (disgusting)
My signature dishes: Involtini di melanzane alla Siciliana, Caponata, Pastiera Napoletana, Gelo di Mellone, Cannoli Siciliani and Maritozzi con la Panna (update: they are now many many more but I am tired of writing)
I was Chief of Staff during the Grumpy Greyhound Administration (aka Sophie Lou, my dog) 2002 – 20018
Personal Chef of India Rei – my sweet Black Lab from 2004 to 2016
When I am sad I watch Friends
When I am happy I dance and make necklaces (not at the same time though)
Meanwhile, I cook. Always.
Please Note: All images and content on this site are my own work unless otherwise noted. If you are interested in using a photograph, please do so with correct attribution.
