Although I founded my company in 2016, Santa Cucina really began when I was just a kid, cooking in the kitchen with my grandmother. As an Italian immigrant from Lucca, she taught me a lot of what I know today; whether that be the Italian language itself or how to make the many recipes that have been in my family for generations. Because of her, I have always had a passion for cooking, a passion which has carried on throughout my life, culminating in the creation of this company. 

 

Additionally, Santa Cucina was my personal answer to a problem that I had encountered when I moved to London in the early 90s. I grew up in Chicago, where Giardiniera peppers are a fairly common thing. A staple in my diet and in my midnight snacks during my college days, I was disappointed when I couldn’t find any in London at all. So naturally, I had to make them. And so I embarked on a journey of making and perfecting the ultimate Giardiniera condiment, a feat which has taken me years to complete. And now I offer it to you, I hope you enjoy eating it as much as I enjoyed making it.