I worked as an executive chef at Le Cap-Estel, a 5-star hotel in the French Riviera, close to the Italian border. During this time I delighted the most sophisticated palates, cooking for famous people such as Prince Albert of Monaco, Catherine Deneuve, the members of U2, Team Ferrari and many Italian customers. Best of all, I met a very special Italian lady named Marguerite.

I fell in love with Italian cuisine the day I met Marguerite Squarcifichi, the mother of some Italian friends. She lives in Trucco, a small village north of the city of Ventimiglia. The family had centennial olive trees and they were producing their own olive oil that was pure nectar. They also had a small vineyard and made their own wine. In her cooking, Marguerite used the vegetables of her garden and the products on the farm. Marguerite never stopped working in her kitchen and cooked all day long every day. Her pleasure was to have her family and friends reunited around a big table with plenty of food. She seemed to never sit down or if she did, it was only very briefly, making sure that every guest served himself at least twice of the same dish, dish after dish, and you couldn't refuse anything offered by Marguerite. Her cuisine was something unique - abundant, delightful, sensual, tasty, and so Italian! For me, she is the Italian Mama!

No other cuisine appeals to me as immediately and sensuously as "La Cucina Italiana" - Italy's gloriously simple, deceptively sophisticated, heartwarmingly earthy, and immensely varied culinary repertoire.

Except French, authentic Italian food is, by definition, local in inspiration, and based on fresh ingredients of the highest quality; it is food without pretense -- honest food, real food, tasty food. It is home cooking in all the best senses of the term even when it is served in trattorias or restaurants.