My name is chiamo Nessy, I’m 43 years old, and I was born in the heart of Italy in a charming hilltop town called Cortona, where life moves to the rhythm of simmering sauces and clinking espresso cups. I grew up surrounded by family who spoke through food more than words, where every meal was a conversation and every kitchen a sanctuary. I still remember the flour on my fingers from learning to make gnocchi with my nonna, and the way the smell of garlic sizzling in olive oil could stop me in my tracks.

Cooking has always been part of my language. It’s how I show love, how I cope with bad days, and how I celebrate the good ones. I never dreamed of becoming a professional chef—I just wanted to cook well for the people I care about. Over the years, that circle has grown. Friends became students, neighbors became taste-testers, and eventually I found myself teaching others how to bring a little bit of Italy into their own kitchens.

I believe home cooking should be joyful, forgiving, and full of flavor. I’ve burned things, dropped cakes, and misread recipes more times than I can count but that’s how I’ve learned. Cooking isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating something with your hands that brings people together, whether it’s a slow-cooked ragu or a quick weekday frittata.

Now, I live just outside Florence, in a sunny little house with a view of the olive groves. My kitchen is small, always a little messy, but always full of life. I grow my own herbs, I bargain at the local markets, and I believe that a wooden spoon is one of the most powerful tools in the world.

If you’re a home cook, then you’re already part of my world. I’m here to share what I know, learn what I don’t, and remind you that the best meals come from the heart and sometimes from a happy accident. So tie on an apron, pour yourself a glass of wine, and let’s get cooking.