I was born and raised in Lucca, Tuscany, where I learned to cook from my mum and my nonni. They passed down family recipes and traditions rooted in farm-to-table living — using whatever was fresh from the garden to create simple, delicious meals. My childhood was filled with the joy of gathering around the table and celebrating the flavours of each season.
"I learned to cook the way most Italian children do — by watching, helping, and spending time in the kitchen with family."
Growing up, our family pressed their own olive oil, made their own wine, and preserved the seasons in jars. Food was never just sustenance — it was memory, ritual, and love. Learning to cook meant learning to pay attention: to the smell of soffritto, the feel of pasta dough, the moment a sauce was ready.
Today, The Dolce Vita Kitchen is my way of sharing that heritage here in South London. Through intimate, hands-on cooking experiences in my Dulwich kitchen, I invite people to discover authentic Tuscan recipes, seasonal ingredients and the joy of cooking and eating together.
But I also wanted to bring more of my Tuscany to London — beyond the familiar Italian products you find everywhere. The real hidden gems, what we call eccellenze: exceptional food made in small batches by artisan producers who put quality before quantity.
I've personally sought out small producers back home, from neighbourhood bakeries to family-run olive oil estates, whose passion for their craft reflects the traditions I grew up with. Alongside the food I make myself, these discoveries form The Dolce Vita Kitchen's artisan pantry — a carefully curated collection of authentic Tuscan specialities, also available in beautiful gift hampers.
Whether you join me around the kitchen table or bring a little taste of Tuscany into your own home, my hope is the same: to share the food, traditions and simple pleasures that make Tuscany so special to me.
