Just believe that you can, and take one step at a time.

After leaving school, I studied Web and Graphic Design which was a perfect fit with my acting career and being a mother of three. The combination kept me busy until the kids got older and I found myself with more time on my hands, and with more time came more questions… Questions about what I’d like to do for myself, what other things make me happy?

AH, FOOD. Food makes me happy!
I love everything about it.
To learn it, cook it, share it, teach it, give it, eat it.

I’m a daughter to dedicated restaurateurs, I married into an Italian family, so you can only imagine how food has been a big part of my life. But my reliance on cheese grills and eating takeout wasn’t going to cut it with my Italian mother- in-law. After all, I had inherited the duty of taking ‘good care’ of her baby boy (eye roll) and it wasn’t long before I realized that I was more adept to eating food than making it!

As I embarked on increasing my skills in the kitchen, I developed an early addiction to watching Masterchef Australia… I watched every episode (that’s alot when you consider each season airs over 60+ episodes)! It inspired me to see the contestants fumble through the early stages of the competition, push through all the gruelling challenges to then shoot out the other end as amazing amateur chefs. I wanted some of that, to be locked away, disconnected from the world, do nothing but study and practice cooking!

Dream it, do it. One of the most exciting experiences of my life, making it through the rounds to compete on Season 8. I even got to share the experience with my brother Jimmy who also made it onto the show as the first set of siblings to compete on Masterchef Australia. We were mentored by some of the world’s best chefs such as Heston Blumenthal, Nigella Lawson, Jason Atherton and Marco Pierre White. The whole experience was akin to an intensive bootcamp in the culinary arts and I came out with some new skills. That led to the next dream… what if I could combine my television experience with my new culinary skills to host a cooking show? Armed with my well worn apron, I reached out to a few networks when I returned to Canada and that dream became a reality with GustoTV, as host/chef on their original series, A is for Apple.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that I have a passion for anything creative, whether it’s acting, cooking or even designing this website. A platform for me to share my favourite dishes with you. Thanks for getting to know me, now let’s cook ourselves happy!